FORKED RIVER – Over the weekend, one family’s life completely changed after a car struck their house.
On January 23 at approximately 8:19 a.m., the Lacey Township Police responded to a motor vehicle collision involving a vehicle that struck a residence at 702 Beach Blvd. in Forked River.
According to police, an initial investigation revealed that the 21-year-old driver, Nicole Dalconzo of Jackson, was traveling west on Beach Blvd. and had failed to “negotiate a curve in the road.”
The Forked River Fire Department, paramedics, an ambulance from the Lacey Township First Aid, and a member of the Lacey Township Building Department all responded to the scene.
As a result, Dalconzo’s vehicle veered off the road and hit the side of a house, causing serious damage. Police reported no injures to the residents inside the home, but Dalconzo was transported to Southern Ocean Medical Center for her injuries.
Dalconzo was later transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center after discovering her injuries were more serious. Dalconzo’s mother, Francesca Lia, wrote on Facebook stating “the impact broke her ribs, tore her kidney and a hole in her intestine.” Dalconzo had to undergo immediate surgery due to her injures. At this time, there is no updates on Dalconzo’s injuries and recovery.
The residents of the home, the Melega Family, also took to Facebook to write about the accident and disclosed how their home is destroyed.
“On Saturday morning my family was peacefully sleeping in their beds, my husband and I were anticipating redecorating our bathroom as we just bought our first home a little over a year ago,” Krystal Melega wrote. “Our whole world was destroyed in seconds due to a driver plowing into our home at high speeds. The wall myself, husband and son were sleeping on was where she made impact, we are lucky to be alive.”
Although everyone inside the home was safe, Krystal stated how they are all emotionally destroyed. With the Melega family’s home now condemned, they are asking for the community’s help.
“Our home is a complete loss, along with majority of our belongings,” Krystal wrote. A fundraiser was started on Facebook to help with expenses. Within just one day of creating the fundraiser, almost $3,000 has been donated out of the $10,000 that is needed.
If you would like to help and donate to the Melega family, you can visit facebook.com/donate/321867215862345.
