ANDOVER, New Jersey (WABC) — A New Jersey mother faces unfathomable loss after her husband and two children are killed in a wrong-way accident.
Digna Melendez-Benavente was enveloped in family love and support Tuesday afternoon as she clung tightly to two blankets that belonged to her beloved children.
The fatal crash happened around 4 p.m. Friday on Newton-Sparta Road, east of Linecrest Road, near the Sparta Township line.
Andover Township police say 22-year-old Bruce Cseh was driving his 2023 Jeep Rubicon when he suddenly crossed the double yellow lines into the eastbound lane.
Cseh hit a 2001 Ford Ranger pickup head-on with Andrew Benavente, 36, and his sons Andrew Jr. “AJ,” 13, and Madelyn, 5, inside.
Rescuers tried to get the family out of the vehicle and use fire extinguishers, but the flames became too intense. All three died at the scene.
Cseh was also trapped in his Jeep and emergency workers used a chain to separate the vehicles.
He was taken to Morristown Hospital and later pronounced dead.
The crash remains under investigation by the Andover Township Police Department and is being assisted by the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Sussex County Sheriff’s Department Crash Squad.
The mother now has to bury the family she has prayed for so long to have. She lost several pregnancies before her son was born.
A GoFundMe it was started by Meléndez-Benavente’s brother.
“Digna Melendez-Benavente now faces the overwhelming task of saying goodbye to her beloved husband and two children. As a grieving mother and widow, she will need all the support and assistance we can get her offer. By contributing to this campaign, you will help ease the family’s financial burden and allow them to focus on healing and rebuilding their lives,” the campaign said in part.
Andrew Benavente was a former Newark police officer. He worked as a Newark officer from July 11, 2005 to November 30, 2010.
In fact, their families are full of police officers, a firefighter, a corrections officer, an EMT, and several others have also served in the military.
Benavente’s son was waiting for his turn. He said he wanted to be in SWAT.
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