Grief, Sorrow For 16 Victims After Heartbreaking NJ Weekend
This was possibly one of the most heart-wrenching weekends New Jersey has had in a long time. And at the center of it all was the tragic crash that killed a dad and his four daughters on a Delaware highway.
Overall, at least 16 people died in a series of heartbreaking events that left a number of families in grief on what would have normally been a pleasant summer weekend.
Here is what happened:
Wrong-Way Driver ID’d In Delaware Crash Where 5 In NJ Family Died
Police have identified the man who allegedly drove the wrong way when his pickup truck crashed into a minivan in Delaware on Friday, killing a New Jersey father and his four daughters.
The driver of the Ford F-350 who, for unknown reasons, crossed a grassy median and struck two vehicles was identified as 44-year-old Alvin S. Hubbard Jr. of East New Market, Md., according to Delaware State Police.
Hubbard was transported to a local area hospital where he was treated and released with non-life threatening injuries, police said. He was wearing a seat belt, and it is unknown if driver-impairment was a factor.
The crash remains under investigation by the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit. No charges had been filed by press time.
The driver of the 1998 Toyota Sienna minivan, Audi Marquez Trinidad, 61, of Teaneck, was wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Delaware State Police.
Also in the van were his four daughters: Kaitlyn, 20; Danna, 17; and 13-year-old twins, Melissa and Allison, all of whom were not properly restrained and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
Many in Teaneck have been grieving the loss of five family members who had been returning from a family vacation in Virginia. Their history was called an “American story” by those who knew them, starting with the father, Audi, who had emigrated from the Philippines and served in the U.S. Navy.
Read more: Grieving, Love For NJ Dad, 4 Daughters Killed In Delaware Crash
The 53-year-old mother, Mary Rose Ballocanag, who was wearing a seat belt in the front passenger seat, was transported to a local area hospital in Delaware where she was admitted with serious injuries, authorities said. She was reportedly in stable condition on Saturday night. Read more here…
Man, 58, Drowns In South Jersey: Police
A 58-year-old man has become the 16th person to die in water-related deaths in New Jersey this summer.
He was initially reported missing just before 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 8, Lower Township police said Monday afternoon. He was one of two people who went swimming in the Cox Hall Creek, located at the Wildlife Management Area (formerly known as Ponderlodge Golf Course) in the Villas section of the township.
A third friend was with them, but returned home before they went swimming, police said. One of the two people who went swimming came out of the water, but was unable to find his friend, police said. Read more here…
Baby Killed, Child And Mom Hurt In Wrong-Way DWI Crash In Raritan
A Raritan man who was driving while intoxicated killed a 1-year-old boy after his car jumped a curb and struck a mom and her two young children Saturday night, according to authorities.
The mother suffered serious injuries and the 5-year-old suffered critical injuries. Both remained hospitalized on Monday. The 1-year-old boy was later pronounced dead at the hospital, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.
Ronald B. Rebernik, 62, of Second Street was driving his 2004 Ford Escape southbound on Anderson Street when he crossed to the northbound side, hit two parked vehicles, left the roadway and continued southbound on the sidewalk. Read more here…
Married Couple Killed In South Jersey House Explosion: Prosecutor
A husband who worked at a local mortuary and his wife who taught Catholic school children were killed in a house explosion that occurred in South Jersey over the weekend, authorities announced.
John Paladino, 73, and his wife, 72-year-old Carole Paladino, were the only people in the house when it exploded in the Borough of Newfield early Saturday morning, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office.
The cause of the explosion, which happened at about 6:15 a.m. on the 300 block of Oakwood Drive in Newfield, remains under investigation by the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and the county Fire Marshal’s Office. They have said no foul play is suspected. Read more here…
Two Women Were Victims In Suspicious Deaths At Jersey Shore
Two women died in a “suspicious” manner at a Jersey Shore high-rise near the waterfront on Sunday, according to authorities.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit is currently investigating the suspicious deaths of two women at 4800 Boardwalk in Ventnor, authorities said.
The Ventnor Police Department is assisting in the investigation. It is believed to be an isolated incident and there is no apparent danger to the public. Read more here….
Man Killed In Holmdel Go-Kart Accident
A man was tragically killed in a go-kart accident in Holmdel on Sunday, Patch has learned.
Details are still scant, but the fatal accident happened Sunday afternoon in a private yard in Holmdel Township. The man, in his 60s, does not live in Holmdel.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office is aware of the fatality, but a spokesman said they are not investigating since his death does not appear to be suspicious. Read more here…
Bicyclist Killed In Collision With Car In Maplewood: Police
Authorities are investigating a fatal collision between a car and a bicyclist in Maplewood that took place on Saturday. The deceased cyclist was identified as Jeffrey Scott Jr., 29, of Vauxhall.
The collision took place around 2 a.m. in the area of 1600 Springfield Avenue as the car was traveling east, according to a joint statement from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office stated and Maplewood Police Chief James DuVaul.
Scott Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:48 a.m. The driver of the car remained on the scene, authorities said. Read more here…
Fair Lawn Woman Stabbed To Death In Her House: Prosecutor
A borough woman was stabbed to death in her Halstead Terrace home Sunday afternoon, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office announced.
Fair Lawn Police responded to the residence at 3 p.m. after receiving a 911 hang up call, said acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo.
Police found the woman stabbed, Calo said. She was taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson where she was subsequently pronounced dead, he said. Read more here…
Ocean County Woman Killed In Freehold Crash: Prosecutor
One woman was killed in a head-on crash in Monmouth County Friday morning, authorities said.
Debra Vattelana, 55, of Jackson was killed after losing on control of her Nissan Altima on Siloam Road around 9 a.m., according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Vattelana lost control on a right-hand curve, then crossed the center line and collided head-on with a Nissan Pathfinder, according to the MCPO. Read more here….
South Jersey Woman Killed In Virginia DWI Crash: Police
A South Jersey woman was killed and seven others were injured in a Virginia highway crash that was possibly caused by drunken driving, police said.
Vang Houn, 80, of Westville was killed in the two-vehicle crash that happened on Sunday at 4:30 a.m. on Interstate 85 in Dinwiddie County, according to Virginia State Police.
Clint Vigil, 29, of Richmond, who was charged with driving under the influence, veered into the left lane and struck a car driven by 48-year-old James Allen of Westville. Read more here…
YouTube photo: roses for Trinidad family members who died
