Toms River Father Of 5 Dies Of Injuries After Truck Rolls On Him

TOMS RIVER, NJ — In early January, Juan Pablo Granados-Chavez returned to work after being laid off for much of the previous two months. It was just in time; finances were tight for the Toms River man and his family.

Just as things seemed to be moving in a positive direction, tragedy struck. While doing work under his Chevy Silverado in his driveway on Jan. 23, the pickup truck rolled off the ramps, pinning him.

His wife, Sophia, found him and screamed for help. As family members called 911, the couple's 16-year-old son, Pablo, had the presence of mind to grab a floor jack and use it to lift the passenger side of the truck up so he could pull his father out.

For two weeks, Sophia stayed by her husband's side at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where Granados-Chavez was flown after the accident, praying that he would wake up.

On Feb. 6, however, Granados-Chavez, 40, succumbed to his injuries, according to his obituary on the A.K. Macagna Funeral Home website.

His passing has left the family in a financial predicament, said next-door neighbor Dawn Meehan, who has been leading efforts to help the family, including setting up a GoFundme campaign.

Meehan said Granados-Chavez had just gone back to work two weeks before the accident, after having been laid off from his job in November. The financial pressures of the layoff plus his hospitalization led to the gas company shutting off their service, and an attempt was made to repossess the vehicle Sophia was driving to go visit her husband in the hospital, Meehan said.

Granado-Chavez was a hard worker, neighbors said, and had been the family's primary support.

Meehan said one neighbor paid the family's gas bill to get them a month reprieve. Others have been bringing food and helping in any way they can as three of the couple's five children are in school. Gift cards have been donated to help the family as well, she said.

"Let’s show our neighbors what the real meaning behind 'Toms River Strong' is," she said. The GoFundme campaign can be found here.

GoFundme is a Patch promotional partner.

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook.