A Family's Plea: Who Killed John Kukuch In Rt. 1 Hit And Run?

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — All the family of John Kukuch, Jr. wants is an answer. An answer as to why someone would hit their brother last week while he was walking home on Rt. 1, and then flee the scene.

Kukuch, 31, was killed by a hit-and-run driver early Monday morning, Aug. 13 as he walked home on Rt. 1 in Woodbridge Twp. He was hit by Value City Furniture near Regina Street, just past the turnoff for Rt. 35. The driver was traveling south on Rt. 1 when at approximately 1:23 a.m. he or she struck Kukuch near Clover Leaf Cemetery, and then fled the scene.

Tragically, Kukuch was a mere 500 feet from his house, his sister told Patch today.

"He had been out with his friends and he was walking home," his older sister, Jennifer Bentivegna, said. "Accidents happen, but you don't leave the scene. Our entire family is at a loss. To just leave him there is heartless."

When Woodbridge police arrived, Kukuch was pronounced dead at the scene. On Monday, Aug. 20, Woodbridge police released new details in the case: They are looking for a black or dark-colored, new model, smaller SUV that was traveling southbound on Rt. 1 that night. The vehicle should have front passenger side damage to the headlight and possible damage to the passenger side mirror. The exact make and model is unknown at this time, said Officer Stephen Botti of the Traffic Enforcement Unit.

Kukuch, or Johnny as he is known to most, is remembered by friends and family as a hard-working single dad. He leaves behind a son, John III, 8. Father and son were inseparable, and loved to fish together and cheer on the Yanks.

"He didn't miss one of his son's football games," said Bentivegna. "They were always going to Jets and Yankees games together."

"He was a father first before anything; his son was his world," said longtime friend Joel Guzman. "He’d do anything for that kid; he got all those traits from his father. He was a great father."

Although the boy lived with his mother in New Providence, "John Facetimed him every single night before he went to bed. Every single night," his sister said. "He was working nights at the moment, so he'd get home, sleep during the day and as soon as he got up, it was off to John-John's football game or baseball game."

Kukuch worked as a package handler at the FedEx in Woodbridge. He was also going to school to get his commercial driver's license. He grew up in South Plainfield and had just recently moved to Iselin to move in with his grandmother. He was saving up enough money to one day buy a house. Friends remember a "goofy guy who was a clown, always cracking jokes and laughing," said Guzman.

"He was always there to make everyone laugh," his sister said. "He had this big smile and goofy personality. He was always there for every one of us."

The Kukuch family has been devastated by the loss. In the next few days, they will be putting up a large billboard on Rt. 1 near Regina Street, showing a photo of the father and son and pleading for anyone who knows anything about the car that hit him to please, come forward.

And as for John-John, the beloved son who will now grow up with only memories of his Dad?

"He's crushed," said Bentivegna. "It's just now hitting him that his Dad's not going to be there for Halloween, not going to be there to take him to football games. He had a signed baseball by Mariano Rivera and he put it in his Dad's casket at the funeral."

*Call Woodbridge police officer Stephen Botti at 732-634-7700, ext. 6516 or Detective Heck at the Middlesex County prosecutor's office at (732) 745-8842 if you know anything.

Prior Patch reporting: Man Killed By Hit-And-Run Driver In Woodbridge

Top photo from Kukuch, Jr. via his GoFundMe page: Justice 4 Johnny

Middle photo provided by a friend.