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State police said 34-year-old George Francis of Lanoka Harbor died when his SUV drove off the Garden State Parkway south at around 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25. The crash happened near mile marker 68.2 in Barnegat.
The SUV went down a ditch and hit a retaining wall, along with several trees. George Francis was ejected from the SUV and died from his injuries.
A GoFundMe page said George's wife Beth Francis, also 34 and from Lanoka Harbor, was severely injured and is remains in an intensive care unit at a hospital.
The couple's six-month-old son was also still in the hospital. Miraculously, the Francis' one-year-old daughter was not injured in the crash.
More than $9,400 had been raised from at least 167 donations as of Tuesday, Jan. 30.
"The funds will be used for the children," the GoFundMe page said. "They are left without a father and their mother is severely injured. The family could use all the help they can get since their mother will be injured TBD and their father is gone."
A cousin of George Francis created the fundraiser for him.
"My cousin Georgie was the most happy person you could ever meet," she wrote. "He was free-spirited, giving, and kind."
State police are investigating the crash.
You can click here to donate to the Francis family's GoFundMe page.
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