Local residents and neighbors were in shock last week after a freak bus accident on the West New York waterfront claimed the life of an 8-month-old baby girl from North Bergen.
The girl’s mother was pushing her in her stroller on a sunny Tuesday afternoon along the Hudson River waterfront when a bus that had just picked up passengers at a bus stop slammed into a pole. The pole toppled onto helpless Angelie Paredes. The incident took place on Boulevard East near 56th Street.
The girl’s father, Jairo, a graduate of Rutgers University and an impassioned amateur photographer, had posted photos of Angela just the day before on a swing at Braddock Park in North Bergen with a caption, “First time on a swing.” He also had posted photos of Angelie playing happily in the pool on a recent trip to Florida. Earlier this month, he posted a photo of mother and daughter on a plane with the caption, “About to get real. First airplane ride for bunny.”
The driver, Idowu Garomola of Westchester County, N.Y., was charged with reckless driving, death by auto, and operating a motor vehicle while using a cell phone.
The chain reaction from the accident apparently damaged three parked cars as well.
The mother was not physically harmed, but she and the bus driver were taken to the hospital, reports said.
Officer Mike Stetson of the West New York Police attempted to give the girl CPR, but could not save her.
Friends have started a website to accept donations to help with expenses. In addition, a memorial has been set for Sunday, Aug. 4 at Vainieri Funeral Home, 5923 Kennedy Blvd., North Bergen, from 12 to 4 p.m. “Please join us for a time of healing,” notes a message on the website.
The site is at https://www.wepay.com/donations/113522019.
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