Parkway Crash Victims: 'Hard-Working,' 'Amazing,' 'Sweet' Men

TOMS RIVER, NJ — They were "sweet" and "amazing," with good hearts. But the phrase used most to describe the four young men who were killed in Wednesday's horrific crash on the Garden State Parkway was "hard-working."

And their families and friends are using one more phrase — heartbroken — as they try to come to grips with the losses of Victor Lugo, 24, and Robert "Bobby" Ordeñana, 23, both of Lakewood, and brothers Kevin and Jimmy Quispe-Prieto. Kevin, 21, lived in Beachwood, while Jimmy, 23, was living in Lakewood.

The four died when an Infiniti G37 crashed into the back of an oil tanker truck at 2:50 a.m. Wednesday at milepost 81.5 on the southbound side of the Parkway in Toms River, New Jersey State Police said.

Kevin, who was driving, had bought the car after working all summer, "sometimes 6 and 7 days a week" and saving up to pay for it, according to a GoFundme established by friends and coworkers of the Quispe brothers to help pay for the funerals of all four men.

On Thursday, State Police Sgt. Lawrence Peele said there were no updates on the cause of the crash, which remains under investigation. He had no information on whether blood was drawn for toxicology tests. Related: 4 Fatal Victims ID'd In Garden State Parkway Crash In Toms River

Kevin Quispe-Prieto was studying computer science at Wilkes University and had made the dean's list during his freshman year. Jimmy Quispe-Prieto was being remembered having a good heart. They and their family had come to the United States from Peru 16 years ago, according to the tribute on the GoFundme.

"You're my heroes," a family member of the Quispe brothers wrote on Facebook, recalling playing soccer with Jimmy Quispe and praising Kevin for his path in college.

Kevin Quispe worked at Christian Pools while he was in high school and college, the GoFundme tribute said. "As a co-worker he was dedicated, loyal, and more than helpful. He was our store translator for our Spanish-speaking customers and you can tell he was proud to do so."

Kevin Quispe had "a heart of gold, truly. At such a young age Kevin knew the value of family and cherished his family deeply," the tribute on the GoFundme, organized by Zowie Lawton, Michael Heuser, Paolo Helfers, Nolan Colantano and Nicole Tice said.

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Heuser called Jimmy Quispe "just hands down the nicest guy I ever met. After high school I was lucky enough to keep in contact with Jimmy because he would frequently come to my band's shows. More recently, in 2017 Jimmy brought his little brother Kevin to my house to watch the band play in our basement during a December snowstorm with a bunch of other friends. The memories I have with those two from that night I will hold onto forever."

Lisa Heuser, whose son Michael is one of the GoFundme organizers, said the Quispe brothers were "such sweet boys, very kind hearted and respectful."

A candlelight vigil has been planned for Sunday in Lakewood for Lugo and Ordeñana, The Lakewood Scoop reported. Lugo, who was a public works employee, and Ordeñana, who had served in the Marines and was working at a local restaurant, will be remembered at a gathering at 1 p.m. at the John F. Patrick Sports Complex on Vine Street, south of Oak Street. Read more: Parkway Crash Killed Brothers, Marine & Aspiring Police Officer

Lugo had taken the civil service test to become a police officer and was on the list, the Lakewood Scoop reported. While waiting for the opportunity to pursue that dream, he was working for the Lakewood Public Works Department and was praised by Lakewood Township Manager Patrick Donnelly for being a hard worker. Lugo's stepfather, Alex Guzman, is a police officer in Lakewood, and his mother, Evelyn, works for Lakewood Township, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Ordeñana, who was a U.S. Marine, also was a waiter at Resolve restaurant in Lakewood, where he was "a valuable and amazing staff member ... (and) was a pleasure to work with," the restaurant said in a statement to the Scoop.

The GoFundme has a goal of $50,000, the page says. "We feel it is the least we can do as long-time co-workers to try to ease the financial burden for this family and the 2 other families who have lost their loved ones at this terrible young age." Click here to donate.

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Photo: Jimmy (left) and Kevin Quispe-Prieto; Robert Ordeñana (left) and Victor Lugo, via GoFundme, a Patch promotional partner