Counselors help students cope with loss of classmate
Monmouth Regl. H.S. student killed in car crash March 9
BY JENNA O'DONNELL Staff Writer

TINTON FALLS - Monmouth Regional High School counselors have set up a safe room where they are helping students cope with the aftermath of a tragic car accident that took the life of one of their classmates Sunday night.

Eighteen-year-old Ryan Jones was killed when the car he was riding in struck a tree Sunday night on Wayside Road, police said.

Classmates mourned their fallen peer at a candlelight vigil held on the Monmouth Regional soccer field on Monday night. About 250 students gathered from different schools in addition to Monmouth, according to Principal Andrew Teeple.

Jones, a resident of Cliffwood/Aberdeen Township, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which occurred at about 11:17 p.m., police said.

Jones was the passenger in a Volvo S40 traveling south on Wayside Road when the accident occurred.

The car was driven by Kyle Garingalao, 17, of Eatontown, who suffered injuries and is still hospitalized, police said. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune on Sunday night, where he remains in intensive care.

"Speed was definitely a factor," said Tinton Falls Police Capt. David Trevena. "But the cause is still under investigation."

The students had just left from a friend's house in Tinton Falls when the accident occurred, Trevena said. Garingalao realized that he had forgotten his cell phone and was returning to retrieve it.

Jones was a senior at Monmouth Regional, where he was involved with the varsity soccer, swimming and track teams, said Teeple.

He was also a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.

"Our condolences go out to the families," Teeple said on Monday. "It's a tough day."

Counseling services are being offered to students through the school's child study team and school counselors, said Gayle Fitzmaier, director of the school's guidance department.

A safe room has been set up with water and food where students can come freely, leaving class if they need to talk to someone. Psychologists are available to talk to students one on one and will allow them to go home if necessary.

Fitzmaier explained that it was usually the initial shock impact that sent students to the counseling center, but that often triggers like walking past a locker could affect kids with their guard down.

Counselors also reached out to specific friends of the two students if they didn't come to them, Fitzmaier said. Students found that making a card for their friend in the hospital was helpful.

"We allow them to express their feelings, try to validate them and show them we care," Fitzmaier said. "We're there for the kids and we will continue to be."

The investigating officer in the case is Cpl. Matt Park of the traffic safety unit. Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact Park at (732)542-3400, ext. 620.