The son of Harford County Council President Billy Boniface was killed while driving a family pick-up truck at their Darlington farm early Monday morning, police said.
Benjamin Boniface, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, reported at approximately 4:50 a.m. on a private road on the Boniface’s Bonita farm, according to Harford County Sheriff’s Office Monica Worrell. The farm is located on the 3700 block of Harmony Church Road in Darlington.
Worrell said Boniface was operating the vehicle when it failed to negotiate a curve and crashed through several fence posts, causing pieces of the fence to penetrate the windshield and fatally injure him.
According to a police report, a nightwatchman guarding the property told police that he heard Boniface’s vehicle drive onto the property at approximately 1:30 a.m.
The same nightwatchman came upon Boniface behind the wheel of a 1994 Ford pick-up truck at approximately 4:15 a.m., according to the report, and reached Billy Boniface at the family’s home. Boniface arrived on the scene and began performing CPR while the nightwatchman called police, Worrell said.
Worrell said police believe the vehicle he was driving when he was heard entering the property in the early morning hours was the same vehicle he was later found in. However, it was not clear whether had reached home before the accident and ventured out later in a different truck. She said the accident occured between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 4:15 a.m., but that she was unsure if the agency would “ever be able to be determine the exact time of the crash without witnesses.”
Council Vice-President Richard Slutzky said he spoke with Boniface briefly Monday morning. He said Boniface will not be at the council’s legislative session planned for Tuesday, but that the business of the council would proceed as scheduled.
“The thoughts and prayers of the council are with the Boniface family,” Slutzky said.
Out of respect for the Boniface family, the Darlington-Dublin Community Council is canceling its Wednesday night meeting, which county executive David Craig was scheduled to attend.
Check back with The Dagger for more on this breaking story.
Benjamin Boniface
Prayers for the family!
Thoughts and prayers to the Boniface family.
OMG I am so sorry for the family. The Boniface’s have done wonderful things in Harford County. With a Daughter this young man’s age, I am truly saddened by this. Prayers to the whole family.
I have no idea how I would react to a tragedy of this nature. My thoughts and prayers go out to Billy and his family.
Nice young man from a good, hard-working family. He’d give you the shirt off his back. Very sad.
Such a tragedy for a family that’s done nothing but good for the county for decades. Thoughts and prayers to the entire Boniface family.
Praying that God will give you comfort at this tragic loss of your son
We will be keeping your whole family in our prayers
the Wright Family
We love you all,and we are here for you.
With sincere sympathy,
John, Deda, Sara & Evan Bielecki
My deepest sympathies to the fine family Benjamin leaves behind.
Such a sad, tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with the Boniface family.
Very very sorry to hear this. Our prayers are with the Boniface family.
Words – what words will ease the pain and grief your Family is experiencing? There are none. Just know our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Boniface Family.
Without doubt this is a parent’s and family’s worst fear. Our thoughts and prayers for Benjamin and to the Boniface family. Laurel Glen Stables, Fallston, Md. & Long Meadow Farm, Felton, Pa.
B & B,
Just wanted you to know that you raised three great kids !!!!! You will witness how great in the next few days.
This really sucks !!
Be strong my friends, love to all,
Deda
Our deepest sympathy goes to the Boniface family.
LORD, I pray for Mr. Boniface,his family and friends. I pray that Mr. Boniface and his family be blessed with an over abundance amount of God’s love, peace, stength and courage as they walk thru this most difficult time. May those who knew Benjamin be inspired to live their lives with meaning and purpose for the sake of being a positive difference maker in the lives of others.
Amen.
Billy, My sister and I babysat you and your brothers and sisters for years when you were little on the old Family Farm on Rt.543 many years ago. We were shocked as everyone was to hear about Benjamin. Our hearts go out to you and your family. It is hard to understand why things happen but I hope that your faith in our Lord will be able to pull you through this very difficult time. Your family and friends will be surrounded in our love and prayers.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. God bless you and keep you.
My condolences to the Boniface Family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
This is such a terrible tragedy, my thoughts, and prayers go out to the Boniface Family. my kids went to elementry school with his brother Jack, and they are really sadden by this tragedy. They are a well known family in Datlington. Praying that the Lord gets you all through this tough time..
As my brother-in-law said to me when his son died over a decade ago, you’re not supposed to bury your children. I’ve never lost a child (losing my nephew is as close as I’ve come, which is too close for me, thank you), so I can’t even begin to think of what the Boniface family is going through at this moment. My prayers go out to them, especially to those grandparents that I know personally.
Dont Drink and drive people!
Stay classy…
That is a cheap, assuming remark. No evidence of alcohol involved.
How dare you insinuate such a thing to add to the grief of this family!
You made that assumption. It just looked to me like a friendly reminder. How dare you read into it like that. Guilty conscience I guess.
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My family is so saddened to hear this news. The Bonifaces are a wonderful family. Ben was a very hard-working, kind, considerate young man. Our thoughts and prayers are with you now, and in the days and months to come. Praying for God’s grace and strength in this horrible tragedy.
So very sad and tragic, there are no words to offer. Praying his family and friends can get through this and soon find some comforts in their memories. I am so very sorry for their loss.
No man wants to outlive his son, so sorry to hear about this. God bless.
Our prayers go out to the entire Boniface family.
May the lord get you through this tragic moment.
Words alone can not express the anguish parents endure at the passing of their child. No family should have that experience. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time of loss.
This is a sad story for the Boniface family, but let’s not forget that if this child was of a different race, or from the southern part of our county, this story would read very differently. The fact of the matter is alcohol being a factor in this death has been covered up. It would not be covered up if this child had a different last name. I am sorry for the loss of this family, but I am irritated by the double standard this causes. The details may never truly come out, and that is the unfair, politically controlled world we live in today.
I am appalled at some of the comments people have made regarding the Boniface tragedy. It’s always about “woe is me” – whoever they are…I am sick at heart and would hope people would just knock it off. Let the family get through this. It is out of respect for the family and the way they have led their lives. You sow what you reap and the Boniface family have sown the seeds of goodness, honesty, and a work ethic learned from generation to generation. This is not the time to grind your personal axe – keep it to yourself.
Lou, I agree with you completely. Leave this family alone to greive
their loss. I recently had a relative age 20 die or complications from being a diabetic. Her local Parks and Rec where she volunteered honored her family by setting up a scholarship in her name and when it was covered by the local media, her family was slammed with people saying terrible things about the honor, and how they should receive the money, because they worked harder than she did.
A young man was killed, lets remember that, and not turn this into a linch mob.
Lou,
So very, very true. You do reap what you sow! My condolences to the Boniface family.
How do you know this to be ‘fact’? A mother and father have lost their son, a little girl has lost the brother who was truly her hero….and all you can think to do is attack because of where the accident happened and who Ben’s father is. Shame on you. As far as I am concerned, your behavior is more offensive than any perceived cover-up.
I agree with your post. A child is dead, the family does not need to be subjected to this kind of hatefull behavior.
Why do people always make everything about race. This has nothing to do with race, let the race issue go! Leave these people to mourn their son.
What kind of farming is done at 1.30am?
Truth I agree; if this was in Edgewood.
1:30 AM farming!!! I’ll bet he was drunk. He was seen at a local bar earlier in the evening.
A child is lost, no matter what the cause, pray for the family. Ben is in heaven, I wish our society was more compassionate and less judgmental.
It’s foaling season,race hoeses are usually born early in the morning like midnight to 5 AM. That’s why there is a night watch there. That is what kind of farming is done at night.
As parents, we cannot possibly understand how you can bear the terrible pain you must feel. We hope that all of the love from everyone’s hearts helps your family get through this. His memory will always be with you and all of us. Know your friends care and share your loss.
It is a horse farm – horses get out at all hours.. And farmers get up at 3:30 to go to work.. seriously guys, if you can’t say anything decent, don’t say anything at all..
DO you drive your truck so fast chasing a horse that it causes the car to lose control? Not a very good farmer then.
Dear John your are a jackass. You know nothing about farming or humanity.
billy I’m so very. Sad 4 Ur losT my. GoD. B w/ U
so sorry to hear of your loss mary, bill and I were friends she adored you all thought and prayer with all of you .
Police Report Indicates Boniface Son Returning Home at Time of Fatal Crash
http://www.daggerpress.com/2012/06/19/police-report-indicates-boniface-son-returning-home-at-time-of-fatal-crash/
May his soul rest in peace, and perpetual light shine upon him.
Our hearts are with everyone in the Boniface family with this horrific tragedy. A parent’s nightmare come true. We are lifting you all up in fervent prayer, especially Billy, at this time. Sending loving and supportive thoughts to a family who has given so much to our community. God bless you all.