Three from Ridgewood die in Rte. 80 crash

A 29-year-old Ridgewood man taking medication to control his epileptic seizures clipped a car on Interstate 80, killing himself, his friend and her three-year-old daughter as they traveled to a barbecue in Pennsylvania only three days before Independence Day holiday.
Norberto (a.k.a. &#8220Novito”) Ortiz's Acura allegedly went into a tailspin after clipping another car as he tried to change lanes. It then hit a guardrail and ended up in a nearby wooded area, where it rammed backward into a tree.
He and his passengers, Eileen Rodriguez, 35, a school aide, and her daughter, Alyssa Vasquez, died instantly.
&#8220He was a smart, caring, wonderful guy full of life and full of love,” said his sister, Belinda Ortiz, 32. &#8220He was the best brother anyone can have and I loved him very much.”
She said her brother, an insurance investigator with a Rockville Centre firm, dreamed of becoming a cop but could not because of he suffered from epileptic seizures.
&#8220He was a huge Yankee fan and always wore Yankee hats,” Ortiz said, fondly remembering her brother. &#8220He loved kids and kids loved him back, always playing baseball and football with them. He loved animals, especially his dogs Geralin and Prissy and his three African greys [parrots] who always call out his name.”
The accident, which happened outside Rockaway Township, shook the close-knit community on Cornelia Street where the victims lived within doors of each other.
New Jersey State Police are still in the process of investigating the accident. No charges have been filed against the other driver.