BY ERIKA NORTON
WEST MILFORD — A 20-year-old from Hewitt was killed in an early morning car crash on Saturday, July 29.
At about 2:31 a.m., West Milford Township Police responded to a reported serious single car motor vehicle crash on East Shore Road, according to police. Upon arrival, patrol units observed a severely damaged 2003 gray GMC Sierra pickup truck off the roadway.
The vehicle had exited the roadway to the right while traveling northbound and struck several trees, police said in a press release. The operator and lone occupant, Paul C. Roberts, 20, of Hewitt, was found dead at the scene.
West Milford Fire Department Companies 3, 5 and 6 and the Township Department of Public Works all assisted at the scene, according to police. The crash is currently under investigation by the West Milford Police Crash Investigation Unit.
According to Weat Milford Police Lt. James DeVore, the police are waiting for the autopsy reports to get back, which can take up to two or three months. Until those results are returned, police will not know the cause of the crash.
Any witnesses are asked to contact the West Milford Police Department at 973-728-2800.
‘Had the biggest heart’In his obituary, Roberts was described as always having “the biggest heart despite his rough exterior.”
“He loved spending time with his friends and his family, who loved him so dearly,” the obituary read.
A GoFundMe online fundraiser was set up on behalf of the Roberts family to raise money for funeral costs. The campaign raised over $20,000.
According to the page, the Roberts’ family does not need anymore donations at this time, but is thankful for the outpouring of donations and support.
“Anyone that knew Paul knew how big of a heart he had and how he would give the shirt off his back to anyone,” the campaign webpage reads. “He would put everyone else before himself and truly impacted many people’s lives.”