South River teen killed in hit-and-run ‘always had a smile on his face’
SOUTH RIVER – Bryan Barbosa loved ice cream. Banana milkshakes were a favorite, with chocolate a close second.
The 14-year-old was riding his bike and enjoying the summer on Friday afternoon, headed to a friend's house in town, when he was killed by a hit-and-run driver around the corner from one of his usual stops – Causeway Ice Cream.
The ice cream shop described Bryan as one of its nicest customers; a teen who “always had a smile on his face.”
Those who recall Bryan talk about his smile. It was sincere and lit up his face, they say.
"He was always smiling. Always pleasant. Always polite, talkative, respectful," said Dawn Guindi, whose son Julian was Bryan's best friend. "Kids are kids. You know, they don't all want to talk to people's parents when they walk in the house. Bryan is one of the two kids − the only two kids that come in here and do that. They walk in the house and hug us and say, 'hello.' They say, 'good morning.' They address us as 'mom' and 'dad.' He was that kid."
The driver, 63-year-old Michael Arena, was arrested at his borough home later Friday. Police said Arena’s white work van, suspected in Bryan’s death, was parked in the driveway.
Arena admitted to driving the vehicle at the time of the crash, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. He’s been charged with aggravated manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash and is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending a pre-trial detention hearing.
Immediately after the accident, witnessed by a neighbor's security camera, people in town came forward to help police. That was key, officials said. That video, Dawn Guindi said, shows the crash.
The investigation into Bryan's death is active and continuing, as is the mourning.
The borough is grieving for their collective son, said Borough Councilman Peter Guindi, uncle to Julian.
A borough firefighter, Peter Guindi was called to the scene right after Bryan was struck. Bryan was a fixture around the 2.9-square-mile town, always on his bike, Guindi said.
"This is too close to home. He was a very, very good kid," said Guindi, himself the father of two girls. "Always smiling."
Bryan's group of about a half dozen friends often had sleepovers, and the last one lasted three days. The group rarely separated despite Julian's family having moved out of the borough last year.
"Every day after school gets out at 3:05 p.m., (Julian) got in the car and I drove him to Bryan's house in South River. Monday through Friday after school, he was there," Dawn Guindi said.
Who was Bryan
The only child of Ana Christina Taotoro and Luis Barbosa, Bryan was born in Brazil and learned to speak English in school when he came here in second grade. He would have begun his freshman year at South River High School in the fall where he would have played football, wrestled and hopefully also been a member of the basketball team.
He was a good athlete, a good student and a good friend, Dawn Guindi said.
"Every single one of the kids that Bryan calls a friend would say that Bryan is our 'best friend,'" Dawn Guindi said. "Because that's who he was. He was the kid that listened. He was the kid that gave advice. He was the kid that didn't judge anyone, didn't expect anything from anyone. This kind of thing shouldn't happen to anyone and definitely not to a kid. But to have it happen to a kid like Brian. He was just a good kid. Straight to his soul. He was good."
He and his friends had so many plans, and Julian was beginning to teach Bryan how to box, Dawn Guindi said.
"He just wanted to learn things and be things and do things," she said. "I've told (Julian) that he has to go on and do all these things in Bryan's honor, in his memory for him and never, never let anyone forget who he was and who he was to you."
Now the plan is to bury a son and a friend.
A viewing is being planned for 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Maliszewski Funeral Home, 218 Whitehead Ave. with a service at 10 a.m. on Thursday at Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church, 100 James St. The funeral plans are still being worked on, Dawn Guindi said.
Bryan's parents planned to eventually return to Brazil.
"Now they are tasked with planning a funeral in a country that is not their own, knowing that they planned to go back to Brazil," Dawn Guindi said. "Do they want to bury their only son here knowing they want to leave?"
Bryan's friends plan to keep going to his parents' house every day, whether it's one of them or five of them, just to check in, she added.
Peter Guindi said Bryan’s death has shaken the entire community, which came together for a vigil on Saturday.
"We are considered as one − we are a tight town, but it took this to bring us together,” he said. To see this happen in your own backyard … a loss of a life has occurred and it's just … it's horrible. That's what it comes down to. It's horrible."
Community comes together
Causeway is donating $1 from every milkshake sold Saturday through Monday to help with Bryan’s funeral expenses. A cornhole tournament hosted by the S.R. Riders at the Portuguese Club, already scheduled for Sunday, was quickly turned into a fundraiser for the family as well. Originally it was meant to benefit local cheerleaders who decided to redirect the cause.
On Monday, Carvalho's Bakery at 148 Whitehead Ave. will host a stand outside the shop from 12:30 to 7 p.m. with all proceeds going to help with funeral expenses.
"On Friday, a beautiful young soul was taken from this world and our community has been aching since," the bakery's notice said. "No mother should ever have to send her child away to heaven."
Baker Squared, 35 Main Street, is hosting a bake sale Friday through Sunday with half of proceeds designated to help alleviate costs for Bryan's family. The money raised will be given directly to Bryan's parents. To order, go to https://forms.gle/bWFHQKsMny34bxBR9 or email bakersquarednj@gmail.com.
"As a mother of a son the same age as Bryan, I cannot imagine the pain his family is experiencing. Bryan was doing what we all did as kids growing up. My heart is completely broken for the loss of this young man's life, for his family, and friends," said Jennifer Baker. "I would like to help his family in the only way I know how. Our little town of South River is showing just how much we can do when we band together."
A GoFundMe page had collected more than $55,000 by Sunday afternoon to assist the family.
"The town of South River is so small," said Nicole Martins, who organized the fundraiser. "We all always look after each other’s children who are playing outside. Going to the park. Riding their bikes. To hear this horrible tragedy broke everyone's heart."
"With a heavy heart we send you our love and support," said one donor. "I did not personally know Bryan but the tears I shed are very much real. This is heartbreaking. May he rest in eternal peace."
Hundreds gathered Saturday near where Bryan was struck and walked to Denny Stadium carrying a blue star, red heart and white and light-blue balloons before a candlelight vigil was planned. An ever-growing memorial has been created where Bryan was struck.
"South River is a town that is family," Peter Guindi said. "We look out for each other. This never should have happened. Something has to be rectified. Our kids are our kids, and we have to watch over them."
What happened to Bryan "was a freak accident,” Peter Guindi added.
"There were too many variables," the councilman said. "But the biggest mistake that this person did was he kept on going. He had every opportunity − all the ample opportunity − to stop and he chose not to. It (the video of the accident) shakes you.”
The councilman said he will explore having Middlesex County, which is responsible for Whitehead Avenue, add rumble strips or a traffic signal to slow traffic on the road.
Dawn Guindi said her family intends to organize something to honor Bryan and hopefully start a sports scholarship in his memory.
"He was here. He was here and we have to make sure that he stays here," she said. "We will never let anyone forget him."
email: cmakin@gannettnj.com
Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: South River NJ teen killed in hit-and-run remembered
