March 5, 2024, 7:38 a.m. ET
NEWTON – The Benavente family has requested Sussex County to rename a section of Newton-Sparta Road in memory of three family members killed in a head-on crash last year.
The crash occurred on May 26, 2023, at approximately 4 p.m. near the Andover-Sparta town line, claiming the lives of Andrew Benavente, 36, and his children, Andrew Jr., 13, and Madelyn, 5, along with 22-year-old Bruce Cseh of Blairstown.
Cseh's pickup crossed the center line, resulting in both vehicles igniting. The roadway was closed until nearly midnight, causing significant disruption.
In a letter delivered by Sylvia Benavente during a recent county commissioners' meeting, the family proposed that the section of County Route 616 between Limecrest Road and Pinkneyville Road be renamed to honor the deceased.
The family emphasized that the renaming could serve as a reminder to motorists, potentially preventing similar tragedies.
While no formal action was taken by the commissioners, County Administrator Ron Tappan stated that the Division of Engineering will evaluate the request and relevant federal and state regulations.
Tappan also raised concerns regarding liability issues with signage and the precedent it may set. Changing the highway name could affect the addresses of properties along that route.
Andrew Benavente was a former police officer in Newark and later moved to Sussex County, where he worked in the auto transportation industry.
Tappan noted that no other county roads currently carry such designations, although some roads have family names. Crosses installed along highways in memory of crash victims are not officially recognized by the county.