Family Begs For Answers, Justice In Monroe Hit And Run

MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ — Jose Cedillo was just heading to work. As he did every weekday morning, the 44-year-old man awoke in the dark at his home in Elizabeth, said goodbye to his wife and dogs, and got in his pick-up truck to make the 45-minute drive south. He worked at Cooper Electric, an electric supply company in Monroe Township.

Cedillo had to be there early, so he made the commute in the pre-dawn hours, in the dark.

But it was sometime before 5 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 30 on Applegarth Road in Monroe that something happened: Cedillo's pick-up truck was hit by another car, police say. He pulled over at the corner of Applegarth and Forsgate Drive and got out to assess any damage.

That's when the driver of the other vehicle hit him. But instead of stopping, that person sped off, Monroe police say. Cedillo died, alone and in the cold and the dark, on that road Thursday morning. His body was found later, lying next to his Nissan pick-up, by another driver passing by. That person immediately called police and an ambulance responded. But Cedillo was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The driver hit him and left the scene of the accident, leaving Jose to die on the side of the road," his friends wrote on this GoFundMe page they set up for Cedillo. They are asking for help in covering Cedillo's funeral expenses, and to provide for his wife, Leslie Cedillo. That's Jose pictured above, with his family. He is originally from Mexico. Past Patch reporting: Elizabeth Man Killed In Monroe Hit And Run Thursday

"They have been married for 12 years," family friend Laurie Vigeant told Patch. "Leslie and Jose do not have any children. Their pets are their children."

"Jose Cedillo had a heart of gold," according to the page. "He had a very infectious smile and laughter that would light up a room. Jose was a truck driver, loved motorcycles and was also an auto mechanic. He loved any and all animals, especially his two loving Rottweilers, Bella and Rex. Jose leaves behind the two dogs and five cats for Leslie to care for on her own now."

"There isn't one person that did not immediately fall in love with Jose because of his warm, open heart and welcoming personality," friends wrote.

His body was taken for an autopsy by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner. Police ask that if anyone knows anything that happened Thursday morning to call Sgt. Saloom of the Monroe Police Department at (732) 521-0222, or Detective Marchak of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at (732) 745-3254.

Services for Jose Cedillo will be at Corsentino Funeral Home at 620 Second Ave, Elizabeth NJ on Sunday, December 3 from 4-8 p.m. There will be a private cremation on Monday.

Photos provided to Patch by Laurie Vigeant.