Double tragedy for NJ family as teen dies months after mom’s homicide

⚫ NJ teen dies in tragic crash in Stafford, just months after his mother was killed
⚫ Sister mourns both mother and brother, expressing heartbreak on Facebook
⚫ GoFundMe is active after raising thousands for siblings after mother's death

STAFFORD — The son of a woman killed in a brutal homicide months ago died in a pickup truck crash in Ocean County, adding to a family's grief.

A 17-year-old driver was killed very early Tuesday in a crash on Route 72 eastbound at the intersection of Nautilus Drive in the Manahawkin area, police said.

Police: Ford Ranger hit utility pole, flipped over

An officer found the silver 2005 Ford Ranger flipped over just after 1:35 a.m. It appeared to have hit a utility pole before rolling over.

Police said they had received a call about a driver "possibly asleep at the wheel."

Sister of teen killed in crash says 'My heart is absolutely shattered'

The crash victim's sister said her "heart is absolutely shattered."

"My baby brother Gabe died last night. Only 17 years old and so much to live for still. I don’t even have the words to say right now," Maddie Saldana said in a public post on Facebook.

She added that funeral and memorial information would be coming soon.

"Gabe was full of life, love, and passion. If you were lucky enough to know Gabe, you’d know his infectious smile and beautiful laugh could light up any room. Gabe was passionate about music. There wasn’t a feeling he couldn’t describe with a quick song. His brain was remarkable," according to GoFundMe organizer Kayla GD, in a campaign accepting donations to help memorialize Gabriel Saldana as of Wednesday.

Read More: NJ courts kept letting him go until mom of 4 was killed

Family is still recovering from January homicide

The 20-year-old Saldana had been grieving for months since losing her mother, Lauren Saldana, in a domestic violence homicide in South Brunswick.

The 38-year-old mother of four was strangled to death on Jan. 9. Her ex was charged with murder.

A GoFundMe campaign to support the siblings after the violent killing of their mother, has raised more than $32,000 as of the end of September.

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