By Kevin Coughlin
The plea on GoFundMe sounded desperate:
“I was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago at 40 yrs of age. I have had many struggles with my health and living situation. I find it difficult to pay for prescriptions and doctor/hospital care. I am in pain every day and unable to work and don’t have family to turn to for help. Thank You.”
That was in July 2016. The goal was to raise $10,000. About a month ago, a terse update was posted:
“I need help with getting to doctors and prescriptions for pain.”
The online campaign for “Dawn’s medical fund” did not receive a single donation.
Dawn Kerestan, 48, of Morristown was killed by a westbound NJ Transit train around suppertime on Dec. 30, 2016.
NJ Transit, which initially identified the victim only as a “trespasser,” released her name on Thursday with no further details.
Rebecca Redmond and her fiancé, Jason, said they had been waiting for an eastbound train to take them into New York to view the holiday sights. The impact occurred directly across the tracks from them, at the easternmost end of the westbound platform.
“Within less than a second we saw what appeared to be a woman either fall or jump” right in front of the Dover-bound No. 645 from Hoboken, said Jason, who declined to give his last name.
There was no scream, or anything to suggest foul play, he said.
Nor, they said, was there any time for the engineer to stop; the couple doubts he ever saw the woman. As the train came to rest at the westbound platform to deposit passengers, the couple shouted, trying to alert the crew to prevent the train from continuing its journey.
PRAYERS AND NIGHTMARES
Jason, a 32-year-old military veteran, said he ran across the eastbound tracks, to a fence separating the two sides, to see if he could render any first aid. Unfortunately, he said, it was too late for that.
Through the fencing, he pounded on the heavy windows of the stopped train, finally communicating to a passenger inside to alert the crew.
The couple recalled seeing only one other person awaiting the westbound train. They estimated 50 or 60 youths were on their side of the station; when the teens dashed for a closer look, several people admonished them to put away their phone cameras.
“It was disturbing,” Jason said. “A person had just lost their life, and all they can think of is to get it on Facebook or Twitter.”
On Thursday, area social service agencies said they either were unfamiliar with Kerestan, or were prohibited by confidentiality laws from saying anything.
Kerestan’s father, Stuart Kerestan of Kearny, passed away in 2012, according to an obituary.
The couple said they were profoundly saddened, for the victim and the engineer, and they have been wondering what circumstances led to this ending.
“It’s just a shame,” said Redmond, 30. The Morristown resident said she is aware of the town’s homeless population, and how the holidays can be an especially lonely time for people who are struggling.
“If you’re homeless in Morristown, and you’re female, there’s really no place for you to go,” Redmond said. She expressed hopes that the victim has next of kin who will mourn for her, and that she receives a proper burial.
The couple said they will pray for Kerestan. Redmond still is dealing with nightmares from that damp, chilly night.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said. “That’s going to stick with me for the rest of my life.”
I completely agree with MHS teen. There were many teens present at the time this occurred because they were headed to a concert in NYC. Everyone of the students that I have spoken with, including my own, was very saddened and upset by this tragedy. Do not assume that they were all recording and posting it on social media. Many called their parents upset and crying about what they had witnessed. They are STILL haunted by what happened and some are even in therapy because of this. Who are you to judge they way they reacted? Anyone standing there would have looked to see what happened unaware of what the situation actually was.
Why the hell is health care so damn expensive in America! These institions get paid 3x if you’re lucky enough to have insurance your insurance company pays you pay a co pay then they freakin send you a bill in supposedly one of the riches country in the nation! WHY if any sitting President wants to make America great start there!!! I’m from Jersey now live in SC and Lexington Medical has actually garnishes my paycheck taken my taxes for medical bills so a lot of times I suffer in silence cause there is no relief or help I’m over qualified for somethimga and under qualified for others what the fuck! There has got to be some changes made when it cones to the cost if health care!
This is so sad and may have been preventable had Ms. Kerestan been aware of the options available to the homeless in Morris County. Family Promise of Morris County runs a drop-in center where folks like this can receive referrals and services. Let’s hope all in need find help in 2017 and always.
Omg prayers and God speed … May we all be even that more aware and compassionate, it’s not all about us, share you time, love and kind words always. 😥
Hi,
This is a tragic event. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ms Kerestan’s family.
As the Executive Director of an agency that provides services to the homeless community, this is a struggle we see every day. We all have to be more aware of our neighbors in need and ways in which we can help.
Family Promise of Morris County provides a Drop in Center called Our Promise. Located right in the heart of Morristown, we offer protection from the elements, Social Workers who can connect people to resources, help in completing paperwork or obtaining needed medicine and information, guidance and support. We also provide toiletry and hygiene items, access to local health and wellness programs and more. This is a safe place for everyone, although especially for women who may be more vulnerable.
All services are free of charge and we encourage anyone who needs help to come visit us at Our Promise 51 Washington Street, Morristown NJ 973.644.0100 . Monday – Friday 1pm – 5pm
Joann Bjornson
Family Promise of Morris County
973.998.0820
Almost too sad for words. Somehow , someway there must be more outreach for anyone in a needy situation. Life can offer a lonely path for anyone who feels so alone.
As we start out 2017 looking for hope and good things, all of us are called to think about how we can help others. I hope so.
I pray for this poor women with the thought that maybe we could have helped her. This could have maybe been prevented. I hope this loss of life enables us all to open ourselves up to helping others in need. Keep our eyes , ears and hearts open.
A sad note about our world today is ,it seems that the clever ,or the lucky ,avoid some of the more harsh realities. In fact we are all charged with being out brother’s keeper. Maybe it’s past time to start doing so?
” It is better to go a house of mourning then to to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyman ; the living should take this to heart.”
Ecclesiastes 7:2
” Teach us to number our days , that we may apply our hearts to wisedom.”
Psalms 90:12
Peace .
Edward France
Some of the teens present that night are volunteers with the Morristown ambulance squad and actually tried to help. While a few of the teens may have used bad judgment, most were extremely upset and crying about witnessing this awful tragedy.
as one of the teenagers who was at this accident and saw it first hand i find it very “disturbing” and wrong of you to comment this about our phones and social media. none of the high school kids had there phones out when the accident occurred and we were all also very saddened and upset about the incident like you and your wife were. we were all effected by this tradegy and are wishing it didn’t happen. please don’t assume things.
So unfortunate. There are resources and shelters in Morristown. I wolunteer for Family promise. Getting medical care paid for may be more difficult. Not sure what her situation was but rip my dear. Your suffering is over.