Jason Allen Murphy, a 32-year-old tow truck operator from West Milford, died suddenly on Tuesday, Oct. 6, less than two weeks after welcoming his newborn son, Jasper, into the world. He leaves behind his fiancée, Sarina Czarnecki, their infant son, and 1-year-old daughter, Adalyn, a loss that has rippled through both his family and the northern New Jersey towing community where he worked.
Murphy was employed by Ron & Sons Towing & Recovery, which provides 24-hour towing and auto repair services in Northern New Jersey, according to Ron & Sons Towing & Recovery. The company announced his death to coworkers, who remembered him as part of their towing family, and said there will forever be a space in its shop for him, as reported by Daily Voice. An official cause of death has not been disclosed in published reports.
Murphy was born on September 6, 1994, in Hackensack. He grew up to build a life rooted in West Milford, a sprawling community of lake neighborhoods and rural roads.
A Family Fundraiser Takes Shape
A GoFundMe campaign organized by Amber Czarnecki was created around Oct. 7 to help Sarina Czarnecki and the couple's children cover funeral costs and ongoing household expenses. As of press time, the fund had raised more than $11,000, the station's report noted. The campaign reflects the sudden financial strain facing a young family that, just weeks earlier, was celebrating the arrival of a newborn.
Murphy is also survived by his parents, Jason and Sherri Murphy; his brother, Devon Murphy, who is married to Brianna and has a daughter named Meadow; his sister, Cheyenne Murphy; and his grandmothers, Laura Moriarty and Patricia Murphy. He was predeceased by his brother, Tyler Murphy, and his grandfathers, Jonathan Murphy and Maurice Moriarty, according to Richards Funeral Home.
Visitation Set With a Colorful Tribute
Visitation for Murphy was scheduled for Monday, Oct. 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. and again from 6 to 8 p.m. at Richards Funeral Home in West Milford. Family members asked mourners to wear bright and colorful clothing in his honor, a request tied to his own distinctive personal style, per the GoFundMe page organized by Amber Czarnecki.
The Hidden Risks of Towing Work
While the circumstances surrounding Murphy's death remain unconfirmed, his profession is among the most dangerous in the country. A National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study found that motor vehicle towing workers face an on-the-job fatality rate of 42.9 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, nearly 15 times higher than the national private-sector average, according to Safety+Health Magazine. Motor vehicle collisions account for 64 percent of all fatal incidents among these workers, the same research found.
Nationally, roughly 60 tow truck operators are killed on the job each year, averaging nearly one death every six days, according to statistics compiled by AAA and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and cited by Hard Hat Training. New Jersey has moved to address the danger: updated provisions under the state's Move Over law, N.J.S.A. 39:4-92.2, require drivers to move over one lane or slow down if moving over is unsafe when approaching stationary tow trucks and roadside service vehicles displaying flashing or blinking lights, according to the Garden State Towing Association. Motorists who fail to comply face fines between $100 and $500, and as of January 2026, license points are now assessed starting with a driver's third offense.
For now, the West Milford community is focused on honoring Murphy's memory and supporting the family he leaves behind. The GoFundMe campaign remains active as Sarina Czarnecki and their two young children navigate the weeks ahead without him.
