Toms River accident: Community remembers victims who 'touched our lives'

TOMS RIVER - Kevin Quispe-Prieto had labored all summer, working six or seven days a week at a local pool store to save up enough money to buy a new car.

It was typical of Quispe-Prieto, 21, of Beachwood, who had worked for more than three years at Christian Pools in Toms River, working shifts in between taking classes at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania and later at Ocean County College, friends said.

When he finally bought the car — a white Infinity G37 sedan — he showed up at work on his day off to show his friends.

"He was shopping and shopping and all of the sudden he found that one and that was the one," said Zowie Lawton, who worked with Quispe-Prieto at Christian Pools. "He was so proud of himself. He worked for that car."

EARLIER:Lakewood mourns victims of deadly crash

It was the same car that Quispe-Prieto was driving when it slammed into the back of a tanker truck on the Garden State Parkway in Toms River just before 3 a.m. Wednesday, killing him, his brother Jimmy, 23, and friends Victor Lugo, 24; and Robert "Bobby" Ordeñana, 23, who all lived in Lakewood.

The violent post-Christmas crash, the deadliest of the year in New Jersey, remains under investigation. New Jersey State Police did not release any more information Thursday.

Employees of Christian Pools, who remembered Kevin Quispe-Prieto as a gentle and compassionate friend and employee, set up a GoFundMe fundraising campaign Thursday to raise money for the Quispe-Prieto family and the other families impacted by the crash.

"All four of the boys were under 25, live in our community and have touched our lives in many different ways," a post on the GoFundMe page read.

The campaign had raised more than $3,000 as of Thursday evening.

Kevin Quispe-Prieto was part of a tight-knit group at Christian Pools, a "mom and pop" shop with only six employees who spent many hours working and joking together during the busy summer season. Quispe-Prieto, who came to the United States with his family from Peru about 16 years ago, took pride in being a translator for Spanish-speaking customers, co-workers said.

EARLIER:Four Ocean County men dead in Toms River accident on Garden State Parkway

"He was a sweetheart," co-worker Nolan Colantano said. "There wasn't a single bad bone in his body."

He had recently been planning for his future and wanted to eventually study computer science at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Colantano said.

Tributes continued to pour in Thursday for the other crash victims. Friends remembered Quispe-Prieto's older brother Jimmy in much the same manner as Kevin — kind-heartened and hardworking.

The Lakewood community plans to remember Lugo and Ordeñana at a candlelight vigil Sunday at 1 p.m. at the John F. Patrick’s Sport Complex on Vine Avenue.

Lugo, who worked for the Lakewood Department of Public Works, wanted to be a police officer like his stepfather.

He played baseball for Lakewood High School as a pitcher and third baseman and was a car enthusiast who cherished his Toyota Supra, according to his obituary.

A viewing for Lugo will be held Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Calvary Lighthouse in Lakewood. His memorial service will follow at 5 p.m.

Ordeñana served in the U.S. Marine Corps and posted pictures on social media of his travels to Europe and Africa.

Ordeñana's friend Kaela Alexandra Gifford recalled that Ordeñana talked in high school about serving his country after graduation.

"I knew (if) he followed his heart and stuck to his dream, he would achieve it," she wrote in a Facebook message.

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Andrew Goudsward: @AGoudsward; 732-897-4555; agoudsward@gannettnj.com