[GP99GT]

Police said a drunk driver was behind the wheel when a car crashed into an embankment in West Milford this morning, killing the father of two young children.
The victim, 27-year-old township resident Jay DeRaffele, had two sons -- one a year old and the other a month old.
Family and friends said he went to great lengths to help anyone who needed it.
"He always went above and beyond…on more than one occasion," said his sister, Jenny Sibley.
"He was a great guy. He'd do anything for you," said longtime friend Jason Dockray, who also worked at the victim's garage, DeRaffele Automotive on Marshall Hill Road.

DeRaffele not only made fixing cars his living but also his hobby, racing and toying with them in his down time.
"He was really into his cars," Sibley said.
DeRaffele graduated from West Milford High School in 2000 and from Pace University, which he attended on a football scholarship, in 2004.
Marshall Hill School Principal Mike McCormick, who was the principal of West Milford High School (WMHS) when DeRaffele was a student there, said DeRaffele was a student athlete who shined at both the football and baseball.
"I remember him being a great kid," McCormick said.
DeRaffele leaves behind two sons, Jayden, 1 year, and Brandon, 1 month.
Avery Meyer, 18, was behind the wheel of a 1988 Volkswagen, with DeRaffele in the passenger seat, when the car ran off East Shore Road and struck a rock wall around 1:45 a.m. today.
She has been charged with death by auto and driving under the influence, as well as several other motor vehicle offenses, Lt. Timothy Storbeck said. She was being held pending bail at the West Milford police station.
Storbeck said that he had no information on how Meyer and DeRaffele knew each other or how Meyer might have obtained alcohol.
DeRaffele was pronounced dead at the scene, the lieutenant said.
The fatal crash comes little more than a week after 21-year-old Megan Buske, a West Milford High School graduate, was killed after her GMC Canyon hit the back of a tanker trailer on the right shoulder of Interstate 287 in Mahwah.




theres the story from NorthJersey.com....i wasnt GREAT friends with the guy, but he was an awesome dude. always happy and always helped me out with my cars and stuff.