Teachers recall two mature, caring teens who enjoyed life
BY BRIAN DONAHUE
Staff Writer

A junior at East Brunswick High School and a recent graduate were killed Sunday in an accident that may have been caused by road rage on the part of another driver.

As authorities investigate witness accounts and other evidence near the accident scene on Route 18, the community mourned the losses of Lesley Alison Carness, 16, and Jon Mustafa, 18. The girlfriend-and-boyfriend pair perished in the 3:04 p.m. accident on Route 18 southbound just south of West Ferris Street in East Brunswick.

The accident may have been triggered by another vehicle, believed to be a black Jeep Cherokee. The vehicles had been stopped at the light at West Ferris Street - the Jeep in the right lane, another vehicle in the center lane, and Mustafa's 1997 Honda Civic LX in the left. When the light turned green, the Jeep crossed two lanes, got in front of Mustafa and applied its brakes, said Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Nicholas Sewitch, citing witness accounts.

This caused Mustafa to slam on his brakes and turn the vehicle abruptly, thereby losing control of the Honda. Mustafa's vehicle flipped over and crashed into a tree in front of the Village Green shopping center.

Sewitch, describing it as "a potential road rage incident," said the occupants of the two vehicles may have had some interaction north of West Ferris Street that led to the behavior on the part of the Jeep driver.

The Jeep was being driven by a male and had a female passenger. The two are described as in their late 20s or early 30s.

Police are trying to determine their identity and the whereabouts of the Jeep, and urged anyone with information to call East Brunswick Patrolman Chris Soke at (732) 390-6969 or Investigator John Dando of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at (732) 745-3331.

Sewitch said many witnesses have come forward with information about the accident since Sunday, and police have a partial license plate number for the Jeep. Also, some businesses may have captured some of the activity on surveillance cameras.

"Police are exploring every avenue, including the very real possibility that the highway was videotaped," Sewitch said.

In particular, he is urging the female passenger of the Jeep to come forward, as she has not committed any crime yet.

"She hasn't done anything wrong yet. If she comes forward, it would be better for her," Sewitch said. "If she continues to protect the driver, she might face criminal charges."

Community in mourning

Meanwhile, friends, classmates and the community as a whole expressed shock and sadness over the loss of two teenagers, who had been dating one another for several months.

By Monday afternoon, friends and loved ones had set up a memorial shrine at the scene of the accident with flowers, pictures and notes. At the high school, students returned from spring break to a sad, reflective environment, and counselors were made available to students and staff, said Trish LaDuca, coordinator of community relations and programs.

"I just think it was a very solemn day, very thoughtful, quiet," LaDuca said. "As Mr. [school Principal Robert] Murphy said, 'When something like this happens, you start to appreciate life and everything about it a little bit more.'"

Lesley, a lifelong East Brunswick resident who is survived by her parents, Kenneth and Terry, and her sister, Amanda, had planned to pursue a culinary career and was an animal lover.

Mustafa, who graduated from East Brunswick High School in June, was living in Gloucester County and is survived by his parents and two sisters.

The two were described as "regular kids" who enjoyed life and had a close, supportive relationship with each other.

Colleen Paolo, a teacher in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department, described Lesley as "a great student" with a willingness to do anything asked of her. She was mature in class and stayed focused on her work, and she loved the idea of a career in cooking.

Paolo, who had Lesley in three classes, said she was "quiet, gentle, reserved, and mature beyond her years."

Teacher Ronnie Goldstein also spoke fondly of Lesley.

"This is such a difficult time for everyone," she said. "She was truly a delightful young woman who we all will miss dearly."

High school history teachers Kathleen Hassan and Nicole Safar described Mustafa as "a young man with a quick wit, a beautiful smile and sparkling eyes." In an e-mail, the teachers said he was a friend to everyone in the culturally diverse school, and someone who valued his own heritage and respected others.

"He loved our world history class and frequently returned after class to continue discussing world events. Jon's loss deprives the world of a young person with wisdom and kindness beyond his years."