The trip from Williamsburg to Boro Park is usually a very short one. It takes no longer than twenty minutes to commute between the two frum centers in New York by car. Last Friday, hundreds of families got ready for the short trip from Boro Park to Williamsburg in order to spend Shabbos with family and friends.

The BQE highway is the only road that connects the two neighborhoods. On Friday, approximately at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, an accident occurred on the highway near Bedford Street, which is not far from the entrance to the neighborhood. The accident involved a crane truck which collided with a bridge that crosses the highway, causing the truck to turn over. The truck blocked all three lanes, which in turn brought the traffic to a halt.

The main 'victims' were, of course, the frum passengers who were on their way to Williamsburg for Shabbos. Those who were in the beginning of their journey immediately turned around and returned to Boro Park. The others were stuck with no way out.

All roads adjacent to the BQE highway were blocked by vehicles that were barely moving. Shabbos was nearing. The 'Etrog' reporter, who was also stuck in the horrific traffic jam, phoned his Rav for guidance a mere few minutes before the onset of Shabbos. The Rav instructed him to stay in the car as the driver was a gentile, and get off the car in Willamsburg only after the driver would open the car doors. The reporter arrived in Williamsburg half an hour after the onset of Shabbos.

On his way, the reporter saw dozens of frum families walking down the road on foot, as they were driving their car by themselves and could not rely on a gentile to drive for them. For some it took over two hours, and for others it was straight out impossible, as they had little children with them. Some of them took a taxi with a gentile driver who drove them into Williamsburg.

Among those who were forced to walk to the neighborhood were a chassan and kallah on their way to their Shabbos sheva berachos in Williamsburg.

Several dozens Pshevorsker Chassidim were on their way to their Rebbe in Williamsburg, and walked for over two hours. They arrived in Willaimsburg right in time for the tisch.