U.S. Army Major From NJ, 2 Daughters Killed In Kentucky Crash: PD

A U.S. Army major from New Jersey and his two daughters were killed in a triple-fatal crash in Kentucky this past weekend, police said. Funeral services have been arranged for New Jersey.

Agustin "Augie" Gonzalez, a Jersey City native, died at the scene while his two daughters, Noelle, 6, and Gwen, 2, died after they were hospitalized, police said. An 8-year-old son, Nick, was transported to Hardin Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

All children and Gonzalez were wearing their seat belts, police said.

A GoFundMe page was set up to raise money for the family.

Gonzalez was a football and baseball player at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City and graduated from Rutgers University in 2006 with a degree in criminal justice and sociology, according to nj.com. Gonzalez was deployed four times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Resolute Support, a NATO mission, and earned military honors such as the Bronze Star.

The major had been hand-selected to serve as executive officer for 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, according to Stars and Stripes.

“We want to send our heartfelt condolences to the Family and Friends of the Gonzalez family,” Col. Monte’ L. Rone, commander of the 1st SBCT, said in a statement. “We will continue to support his family during this tragic time and honor Agustin’s legacy as a father, husband, son, and Soldier.”

His Facebook page says he was from Jersey City. A funeral mass for him and his two daughters is scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Aedan’s Roman Catholic Church in Jersey City, according to Stars and Stripes. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery of North Arlington.

The crash happened around 8 p.m. Saturday night on I-65 southbound near milepost 68 in Hart County when Gonzalez, who was driving a 2013 Dodge Caravan, hit a tow truck that had stopped, police said.

Gonzalez was a major in the United States Army and lived recently in Cary, N.C. while he completed his masters degree work in public policy at Duke University. His wife, Melissa, was a second grade teacher until Gabriel was born this past March, according to the GoFundMe page.

Two other childen, Nick and Noelle, both attended school there as well. Gwen was in school at Kiddie Academy in Cary, according to the page.

Gonzalez had just celebrated his graduation and was on his way to Fort Carson, Colorado Springs to take new orders "when the unthinkable happened," the page said.

Melissa Gonzalez, Augie's wife and thier newborn son, Gabriel, were in the air on a flight to Colorado Springs when the accident occured, the page said.