Fundraiser Helps Young Children After Dad Dies, Mom Hurt In GSP Crash

LACEY, NJ — The family of a Lanoka Harbor man who was killed in a one-car crash last week has started a fundraiser to support his two young children. Family members said one of the children was injured, and his wife is still in critical care at the hospital.

State police said the couple and their children were southbound on the Garden State Parkway on Thursday, Jan. 25 when driver George M. Francis, 34, lost control of the vehicle.

The Infiniti EX35 ran off the road to the right around 5 p.m., near mile marker 68.2, and hit an embankment as well as several trees. George was ejected from the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries, and his wife Bridget was critically injured, said police.

George's cousin started a GoFundMe page for the two children, a girl who is a year and a half old and a boy who is just six months old. State police originally said neither child was injured, but the fundraiser states the boy did go to the hospital.

Family members told Patch they would like to keep the children's names private.

As of Tuesday at 9 a.m., more than 140 people have donated to the fundraiser, which has raised more than $8,600.

The cousin wrote that any funds will be used to support George and Bridget's children through the loss of their father, and their mother's injuries.

"My cousin Georgie was the most happy person you could ever meet," she wrote in the fundraiser. "He was free-spirited, giving & kind. Our family is suffering a major loss & any help would be gratefully appreciated."

State police told Patch on Monday afternoon that they do not have any additional information on the crash at this time.