Funeral arrangements set for Newton family killed in fiery Andover crash
Funeral arrangements have been set for the former Newark police officer and his two children killed in a fiery car crash in Andover Township last week.
Andrew Benavente, 36, of Newton, died in the wreck, as did his children, A.J., 13, and Madelyn, 5. They died after their pickup was struck by Bruce Cseh, 22, of Blairstown, whose car crossed over the yellow lines and collided with Benavente's truck head on. Cseh also died in the crash.
The crash happened May 26 at about 4 p.m. near the Sparta Township line. Newton-Sparta Road near Limecrest Road was closed for more than five hours as police investigated. The investigation is ongoing, Andover Township Police Chief Eric Danielson said.
Visitation for Benavente, A.J. and Madelyn will be held Thursday, June 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Megaro Memorial Home in Belleville. A funeral Mass is scheduled for Friday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael's Church in Newark, followed by entombment at Holy Cross Cemetery Chapel Mausoleum in North Arlington at noon.
Benavente was a retired Newark police and Essex County Sheriff's Department officer and was currently working for Somerset Hills Towing, according to his online obituary. He is survived by his fiancée, Digna Melendez-Benavente, and his parents, siblings and grandmothers.
"My babies were precious. My husband was precious. People all over the world wish they had what I had," Digna told NorthJersey.com in a phone interview.
A GoFundMe campaign started by Benavente's brother-in-law has raised over $98,000.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Newton NJ family killed in Andover NJ crash has funeral set
