NJ Child Wakes Up After Family Lost In Triple Fatal Crash

Jonathan woke up to tragedy.

The 11-year-old was critically hurt in a triple-fatal crash that took his father, mother and sister.

For friends and other family members, his improvement offered a ray of hope. But it was also a reminder of what he faces.

So they've gone to GoFundMe to help raise money for funeral and medical expenses as well as anything else Jonathan needs so he doesn't face life alone.

"Our family wants your help to raise money towards funeral expenses for our three loved ones who lost their lives in a terrible car accident," said Rosey Baez, who put together the GoFundMe page.

Jonathan was in critical condition at Cooper University Hospital after the Sunday crash and needed emergency surgery. Now, he's thankfully stable.

Baez also wants to give his family a place to be, and a place for Jonathan to go so he can remember his loved ones.

"Our family quickly realized that it’s a greater amount than we’ve anticipated for the funeral and, as a family, we are also deciding to send our three loved ones to Mexico," she said. "That way the family here in the states is able to say goodbye and afterwards we will send them to Mexico to be buried.

Three of Jonathan's family members were killed in the horrific accident involving a propane truck in New Jersey on Sunday, police said. The crash happened around 3:30 p.m near Harding Highway in Franklin Township, police said.

A car collided with a tanker truck loaded with propane in South Jersey at the intersection of West Boulevard and Lake Road in Franklin Township in Gloucester County, according to police.

Jonathan was critically hurt and hospitalized, but police said he was upgraded to stable condition on Monday.

The car, a 2005 Mazda M3 driven by 19-year-old Bridgeton resident Mariela Cardoso-Baez, had entered the intersection and struck the truck, according to police. The car then flipped and was stuck underneath the truck.

Cardoso-Baez and two other passengers – her father, 44-year-old Jose Cardoso, and her mother, 45-year-old Adriana Baez Mellado – were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

So far, the family has raised $15,000 toward their $50,000 goal. They say the money will also go to Jonathan, because he will need something to help him continue.

"My family and I will probably not make this goal, but the money we raised so far, and are still raising, is extremely helpful to us," Baez said. "We want to thank you all for sharing, thank you to those who have been donating and got us to where we are."