Community Envelopes Families Of Couple Killed In Route 37 Crash

TOMS RIVER, NJ — At each turn in the chapel at Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, photos captured happy moments in the lives Kiley Armstrong and Evan Fiore, forever preserving their bright smiles.

Baby photos. High school graduation. Family celebrations. Moments captured and forever saved. One collage dedicated to the couple included a sketch of a tattoo with a heart joining hands clasped, and Evan and Kiley's names woven in script into its outline.

"If the world was ending, I'd want to be next to you," a quote at the bottom said.

The couple, who were killed March 7 when an unlicensed teen driving a BMW at speeds up to 118 mph ran a red light on Route 37 at Route 166, hitting the Toyota they were in, were together in the chapel at the funeral home Thursday night, and will be Friday during the joint funeral.

The funeral is set for 12:30 p.m. at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church on Hooper Avenue in Toms River, with burial to follow at St. Joseph's cemetery, off Hooper just north of Route 37.

Toms River Police Chief Peter Sundack said road closures will be in place for the funeral procession from the church to the cemetery.

The deaths of Kiley, 21, and Evan, 23, and the injuries to Kiley's twin sister, Krista, and Krista's boyfriend, Ryan Chapman, 19, have deeply shaken the community, as evidenced by the turnout for the viewing Thursday night.

People lined up for the viewing well before the 4 p.m. start, and the line wove through the parking lot and out to the sidewalk on St. Catherine Boulevard for most of the evening. The viewing was scheduled to end at 8 p.m., but was extended to at least 8:30 as the line of people offering condolences still stretched out the funeral home doors.

The funeral had been delayed until Krista and Ryan, who both were flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center following the crash, had recovered sufficiently to be able to attend.

Evan, Kiley, Krista and Ryan were together on March 7 when the Toyota Camry they were in was hit at the intersection of Routes 37 and 166. An unlicensed teen driving a BMW at speeds up to 118 mph ran the red light, hitting the Toyota.

Kiley and Evan died at the scene of the crash. The driver of the BMW was uninjured, and two passengers suffered minor injuries. The driver has been charged with two counts of aggravated manslaughter; four counts of aggravated assault causing bodily injury while eluding; two counts of death by auto; two counts of causing death while driving unlicensed; two counts of causing injury while driving unlicensed; two counts of aggravated assault manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life; eluding, and four counts of assault by auto, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

The case is being handled by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, which is still investigating.

On Thursday night the impact of the losses of Kiley and Evan was clear from the turnout for the viewing.

Members of the Ocean County Sheriff's Department, the Toms River Police Department, and Toms River's fire companies came in groups to pay their respects, and people came from all over to support the families. One woman standing in line had babysat for one of the families. Others were co-workers of the parents, and there were dozens of people who were friends of the couple.

Inside the chapel, the line weaved its way from one side of the room, past dozens of photos of Kiley and Evan, past stuffed animals and lots of Snoopys and ice hockey gear to where the families received condolences, steps away from their children's coffins, which were next to each other.

"If the world was ending, I'd want to be next to you." They will be now, forever.

Previous coverage:

• Funeral Set For 'Inseparable' Couple Killed In Route 37 Crash In Toms River
  
• 'Always Together': Route 37 Crash Victims Were Planning Futures, Families Say
• Support Pours In For Families Of Victims In Fatal Route 37 Crash In Toms River
• 2 Die In Route 37 Crash In Toms River As Unlicensed Teen Drove 118 MPH: Prosecutor