By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
The Manville Community is coming together to offer support and help for one of their families.
The wife of Jorge Luiz Florez-Martinez, 29, and mother of 7-year-old Jorge Luiz-Martinez is the lone survivor of a tragic accident, which claimed the lives of both her husband and son.
Yaritza Ruiz, 32, was the front passenger in the vehicle, and she was able to exit the vehicle and swim to safety.
The father and son drowned Sunday, Sept. 21, following a motor vehicle accident on Weston Canal Road in Franklin Township. The car plunged into the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
The Somerset County Prosecutor’s office issued a press release Sept. 21, stating that at 2:55 a.m., the Franklin Township Police Department and the Somerset Fire and Rescue No. 56 Company No. 1 Volunteer Fire Department responded to a single-vehicle crash on Weston Canal Road. A 2006 Avalanche SUV was in the canal.
The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Dive-Rescue Team also responded. Somerset Fire and Rescue Unit divers, under the command of Chief Anthony Panchery, recovered Mr. Florez-Martinez, of South Main Street, and his son from the canal.
The investigation revealed that the vehicle, operated by Mr. Florez-Martinez was going west on Weston Road when he lost control on a curve, struck a guardrail and landed in the canal.
Both victims were pronounced dead by doctors at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick. Numerous fire and rescue agencies from neighboring towns in Somerset and Middlesex counties assisted in the search and recovery of the victims.
Superintendent Anne Facendo and the Manville School District are coming together with a way to help Ms. Ruiz. The district was notified that afternoon of the deaths. Jorge was a second-grader at Weston Elementary School.
Ms. Facendo said she and Weston School Principal Nicholas Diaz worked throughout the day Sunday to plan assistance for the family and also for students of the elementary school.
"The district’s crisis team at Weston was activated on Sunday afternoon," she said. "Counselors were on hand at all of our schools on Monday, Sept. 22, to assist students and staff who were grieving Jorge’s loss. All schools observed a moment of silence in memory of Jorge and his father on that morning. Flags at all schools were also flown at half-staff throughout the day following the accident.
She added, "Jorge was a bright, happy, loving child. He had many friends at school and was well liked by his teachers and students alike. Jorge enjoyed walking to school each day with his mom, and he loved to play outside. He particularly cherished the games of baseball and soccer. Indeed, his last drawing at school was a picture of himself dressed in soccer gear and scoring a big goal. Jorge will be sincerely missed by all who knew him,"
According to Ms. Facendo both she and Mr. Diaz had the opportunity to meet with the family early last week in order to determine their immediate needs, both emotionally and financially.
"As can be imagined, the entire family was in shock and deep grief over the sudden and tragic loss of their loved ones," she said.
Ms. Facendo is working with the Heidi Alles, president of the Manville Board of Education, and PTA executive board members from all four of the Manville schools. She said a districtwide initiative was launched to collect financial donations in order to assist with both the funeral and related expenses for Jorge and his father.
The money raised also will be used to purchase airfare for Jorge’s mother and grandmother to return to their native Puerto Rico permanently. All expenses will be paid directly from the fund by the PTA on behalf of the family.
Any remaining funds would be used to develop a scholarship in Jorge’s honor.
Ms. Facendo said, district officials and board members attended a funeral Mass for Jorge and his father on Saturday at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Bound Brook. A wake was held Sunday.
Ms. Facendo said money will be collected through the four Manville PTA organizations through the close of the school day Friday, Oct. 3.
Drop off donations at any of the four schools — Weston, Roosevelt, Alexander Batcho Intermediate School or Manville High School — during school hours.
