Group shares poignant moment during vigil Friends and strangers alike reflect on loss of Old Bridge woman, 21 BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer Above: A candlelight vigil marking the one-month anniversary of the death of Samar Seliem was attended by friends, family members and even strangers who wanted to pay tribute to the 21-year-old who was killed by an allegedly drunken driver. At right: Those gathered placed flowers and candles in front of Samar's picture near the location of the car accident. OLD BRIDGE - At the moment of the one-month anniversary of Samar Seliem's death, snowflakes began to fall from the sky. Tears also fell, and whispers of amazement filled the air from those gathered to honor her memory outside her family's home Jan. 30. "I was so happy," Samar's mother, Mona Seliem, said of the unexpected circumstance. Bakr Seliem, Samar's father, called it a blessing from God, according to Colleen Shanley, who organized the vigil. "At the exact moment we all bowed our heads, it started to snow," Shanley said. "Everyone got all choked up." Samar, who was 21, was killed at 10:23 p.m. Dec. 30 outside her family's home on Marlboro Road. She had gone outside during a family gathering to back a car out of the driveway when she was struck by a vehicle whose driver, Cory J. Bieniek, 19, of the Cliffwood Beach section of Aberdeen, was intoxicated, police said. Bieniek, allegedly driving at speeds up to 100 mph, pushed Samar's vehicle 240 feet. She died at the scene of the accident. "He destroyed all my family," Mona said. "She is in heaven, but we're all suffering. We all accept it, but … I feel like somebody [is] crushing my heart every minute." Shanley did not know Samar, but said she thought it would be nice to honor her memory. "She arranged everything, it was so nice [of] her," Mona said. "I want to thank Colleen, but I don't know how to do that. I want to really thank her." About 50 or 60 people from the community gathered around 10 p.m. at the scene of the accident with candles and prayers. The crowd consisted mostly of Samar's friends and members of her family. A number of Bieniek's friends also came to pay their respects, as did Old Bridge Mayor Jim Phillips. "One of the kids actually went up to the father and personally apologized," Shanley said. "It was pretty moving." Bakr thanked everyone for coming to the vigil. Toward the end of the evening, those gathered placed their candles on the ground by a telephone pole where Samar's picture was displayed. Some also placed flowers under her photograph. About seven police officers were present in order to control traffic in the area, Shanley said. One policeman said he had issued 24 tickets to drivers on Marlboro Road within a six-hour period, according to Shanley. The family extended its thanks to Phillips for attending the event and to Old Bridge Police Chief Thomas Collow for his assistance. A group of area residents is working with the Township Council and police in order to combat speeding on neighborhood roads, along with other problems. Bakr attended the Jan. 22 council meeting along with other group members, and warned the council that there will be other deaths if something is not done about the rampant speeding on Marlboro Road. Samar's brother, Islam, a 23-year-old senior at Rutgers School of Engineering, has changed his study habits since his sister's death, Mona said. He used to study at the Rutgers library with Samar every night, but can no longer bring himself to go there. Now, he studies alone in his room. "They were together always," Mona said. The falling snow at the vigil was not the first sign the Seliem family has seen, Mona said. Outside the mosque where Samar's body was being prepared for burial, Bakr looked to the sky, then quickly summoned his wife to see what was in the clouds. The family took a photograph to capture the moment. "We saw the name of God in Arabic," Mona said. "When you see the picture, you feel like somebody drew it. You can't believe it. So that's two signs from God."