Friends Raising Money for Men Killed in Crash

Friends of Jozsef Szathmari and Norbert Sebok are raising money to help cover the funeral costs of the two Sterling men who were killed when an alleged drunk driver slammed into their taxi cab early last Saturday.

Szathmari, 34 and Sebok, 29, were passengers in a cab at 1:45 a.m. last Saturday when Manuel Alejandro Jimenez Benitez crossed over the median in his Chevy SUV Fairfax County Police said. The accident occurred near Wiehle Avenue in Reston.

Benitez, 24, of Herndon, has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.

The fundraising drive has been organized by Atilla Buri and Danny Walsh, friends of Szathmari - called "Jo" by his friends - from adult soccer teams they played on together at Dulles Sportsplex.

Buri, of Ashburn, says the men came to the US from Hungary about two years ago and worked in construction. He said Szathmari played on several soccer teams and leaves behind two children in Hungary.

"I saw Jozsef a couple of times a week playing soccer," said Buri. "He played striker on our team. Everyone liked him."

Buri said the men took a cab after meeting friends at Ned Devine's in Herndon last Friday. A second group of friends was in a cab behind them and witnessed the accident, said Buri.

"These are very smart guys," he said. "When they drink, they don't get behind the wheel and drive. The cabs were literally driving next to each other on the Fairfax County Parkway when the accident happened. "

The fundraiser has amassed just over $5,000 as of late Friday. Walsh and Buri say they have a goal of raising $15,000 to help send the men back to Hungary for burial. 

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