A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for the family of a 13-year-old boy who was killed in a car crash on Sunday.
The two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of Clifton and Montclair avenues in Newark between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m., according to a statement from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Officials did not identify any victims, but said that a 13-year-old boy, a passenger in one of the cars, had died.
The organizer of the fundraiser, Dolores Barraza-Martinez, said that Edwin Ivan Martinez, a family member, died in the crash.
The boy was sitting in the passenger seat when the car was struck on the side by another vehicle, according to the GoFundMe description.
“Edwin was a gift to his mother, who sacrificed everything she had to offer him a better life,” Barraza-Martinez wrote in the GoFundMe description. “Now, she asks that we join with her as she makes plans for his eternal rest with the Father.”
The page describes him as a “serious young man” who enjoyed playing soccer. He traveled to El Salvador to meet his grandparents for the first time this past Christmas and was hoping to visit them a second time this summer, according to the description.
A driver was also taken to the hospital the night of the crash, but authorities did not comment on the extent of the person’s injuries.
As of the latest update, no criminal charges had been filed and detectives were still working to determine the exact cause of the crash, prosecutors said.
A vigil was held for Martinez on Monday night near the scene of the crash with flowers, candles and photos of the boy. His teammates also left a soccer ball at the memorial, which was signed by each member of his soccer team, CBS News reported.
CBS spoke to some of his teammates, who described him as a good soccer player who was funny and gave good advice to his friends.
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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
