A New Jersey mother who was the lone survivor of a horror car crash that killed her entire family has said she feels “alone” after waking up in hospital. Mary Rose Ballocanag, 53, of Teaneck, New Jersey, suffered several broken bones in the devastating collision that claimed the life of her husband and four daughters.
Police detailed that the family of six were traveling northbound on Route 1 in Delaware just before 4pm when a maroon pickup truck came hurtling across the center line into oncoming traffic. The resulting impact on the family’s white Toyota Sienna minivan was absolutely brutal. Those killed were; Audi Marquez Trinidad, 61; Kaitlyn, 20; Danna, 17; and twins Melissa and Allison, 13. All five members of the family were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck, Alvin Hubbard Jr, 44, sustained only minor injuries.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to provide financial help for Ballocanag as she recovers in hospital and deals with the immense grief of sorting funeral arrangements. So far, over $170,000 has been raised. “Please continue to keep Mary Rose uplifted in prayer,” the page noted. You can visit the page to leave prayers, make a donation, or offer your condolences.
An update to the page posted yesterday read: “Thank you for your kindness in remembering Audie, Kaitlyn, Danna, Allison, Melissa and your amazing support for Mary Rose through your donations, and heartfelt messages.”
It concluded: “your thoughtfulness and generosity are much appreciated by the entire family and the community. I hope we all continue to be inspired in helping others as this would be impossible without your help.”
The police have not released any information on the potential cause of the accident, and the driver of the truck has not been charged. For relatives of this well-loved family, the loss is almost too enormous to comprehend.
“I’m trying to keep it together. We don’t know how we will cope once reality sets in. They’re all gone, gone,” Audi’s brother, Daniel Trinidad told the New York Post of the tragic accident. “They’re a God-fearing family. They go to church. My brother texted me a picture of the blue crabs they ate on 4th of July. They’re all gone in the blink of an eye. Their bodies in the morgue are unrecognizable.”
Actress Sara Contreras knew 17-year-old Dana and posted a heartfelt message about the accident.
“Danna, a lovely and brilliant Teaneck HS student and beloved friend of my extended family, was killed yesterday along with her three sisters and father in a car accident,” Contreras wrote on Instagram. “Make everyday a new opportunity to value yourself, your family and your friends. Life is too precious and it can all be taken in a second. We grieve as a community for this beautiful family. Its incredibly sad and incomprehensible.”
Delaware State Police Master Corporal Melissa shared a similar sentiment.
“It’s certainly heartbreaking as you can imagine,” she told NBC 10, adding that she “can’t imagine what they’re going through.”
“Those of us that have families and children, I mean, I feel so bad for this family,” she continued. “To lose four children in a crash … it’s just unheard of.”
#UPDATE: 5 confirmed dead in Townsend, #Delaware multi-vehicle crash on route 1, at least 2 survivors
@CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/BSzcBTajJ7— Chantee Lans (@ChanteeLans) July 6, 2018
The sisters’ uncle, Joel Paul Mogol Ballocanag, posted an emotional tribute to the family on his Facebook page, in which he pleaded for prayer.
“Too many angels were taken from our family yesterday. My four nieces and their dad died instantly in a vehicular accident in Delaware USA. My sister Mary Rose Ballocanag continues to fight for her life and still in a critical condition,” he wrote. “I am soliciting prayers for the souls of Kuya Audie, Nikki, Danna, Mellisa and Allison and lots of prayers for the recovery of my sister Ate Rose.”
https://www.facebook.com/FASTNJ.org/posts/1333544396780574
Do pray for this family as they come to terms with this monumental loss. May God be with them!