Belleville Middle School to raise money for teen killed in bike crash; driver charged
Students and staff at Belleville Middle School will donate money to the family of Victor Huaringa-Alvez, a seventh grade student, who died in an alleged hit-and-run dirt bike accident earlier this month.
On Monday, the school will observe a "dress down" day in honor of Huaringa-Alvez and raise money for the 13-year-old's family, Superintendent Richard Tomko said.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday that a Belleville woman was charged in the accident, with authorities accusing her of fleeing the scene after her Ford Explorer allegedly collided with the boy in the area of Joralemon Street and Garden Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. on June 7, said Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly. Huaringa-Alvez was pronounced dead 45 minutes later.
The woman turned herself over to authorities at the prosecutor's office while accompanied by an attorney on Thursday, more than a week after the fatal accident. Prosecutors charged her with knowingly leaving the scene of fatal accident, endangering an injured victim and driving without a license resulting in a death, and released her pending a hearing in state Superior Court.
"We’re still dealing with the grieving aspect of it," Tomko said of the school's reaction to the boy's tragic death on June 7.
Normally, students observe a dress code of collared shirts and only khaki or black colored pants, shorts or skirts. But those rules will be loosened on Monday, allowing children to come as they are, or even dress in memoriam of their fallen classmate.
"I’m sure they’ll wear something like arm bands," Tomko said. "Something to commemorate what an incredible student he was. The whole idea is for the community to get behind the family."
Along with loosening the dress code, students are encouraged to donate $3, while staff and faculty members may donate $5, to Huaringa-Alvez's family to cover the cost of his funeral services or anything else they may need as the family reels from the shocking loss.
Tomko described Huaringa-Alvez as "well liked" and "very adventurous."
He "had an outpouring of friends who are going through such a difficult time," the superintendent said.
Local police did not release details of what caused the fatal crash when reached for comment on Friday.
Nicholas Katzban is a breaking news reporter for NorthJersey.com. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
Email: katzban@northjersey.com
Twitter: @nicholaskatzban
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Belleville NJ school to raise money for boy who died in bike crash
