Passaic Valley Alum Struck In Head By Line Drive At College Baseball Practice, Family Says Passaic Valley Alum Struck In Head By Line Drive At College Baseball Practice, Family Says
Passaic Valley Alum Struck In Head By Line Drive At College Baseball Practice, Family Says Nicholas Fiorita was days into his baseball career at the County College of Morris when the unthinkable happened. The freshman, who graduated from Passaic Valley High School last spring, was struck in the head by a line drive at practice on Wednesday, Sept. 4, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched by his sister, Sofia. Fiorita has been in a medically-induced coma and, although he's since been taken off of a ventilator and is breathing on his own, it's too soon to say how his brain will respond to the injury, Sofia says. As of Monday, Sept. 9, more than $35,700 had been raised on t…
Death Penalty Sought For Bergen County Native Accused Of Killing Friend's Baby, Abusing Twin Death Penalty Sought For Bergen County Native Accused Of Killing Friend's Baby, Abusing Twin
Death Penalty Sought For Bergen County Native Accused Of Killing Friend's Baby, Abusing Twin The death penalty is being sought against a PhD student from New Jersey who is accused of killing an infant boy and abusing his twin brother in Pennsylvania, according to court records obtained by Daily Voice on Friday, Sept. 6. Nicole Virzi, 30, a PhD student who graduated from Northern Highlands Regional High School, was charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, child endangerment, and more in connection with the incidents last June. The Allegheny County District Attorney's Office filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty in Virzi's case on Thursday,…
Star NJ Baseball Player Nick Cocchia Dies Suddenly, 25 Star NJ Baseball Player Nick Cocchia Dies Suddenly, 25
Star NJ Baseball Player Nick Cocchia Dies Suddenly, 25 Support is on the rise for the family of former New Jersey high school baseball player Nicholas "Nick" Cocchia, who died suddenly on Monday, Aug. 26, according to his obituary on the Rossi Funeral Home website. He was 25 years old. Nick was raised in Mountainside before moving to Kenilworth with his family, his obituary says. Nick played first base, outfield, and pitched for the varsity baseball team at Governor Livingston High School in Berkley Heights, his obituary says.  He helped lead the team to their victory as state champions in 2015 before playing college baseball for Mont…
Man Had 5-6 Beers, Drank While Driving In NJ Crash That Killed NHL Star, Brother: Affidavit Man Had 5-6 Beers, Drank While Driving In NJ Crash That Killed NHL Star, Brother: Affidavit
Man Had 5-6 Beers, Drank While Driving In NJ Crash That Killed NHL Star, Brother: Affidavit A Woodstown man reportedly admitted to having about a half-dozen beers before the crash that killed Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, arrest records said. Sean Higgins, 43, was facing several charges including two counts of assault by auto, according to court records. He was accused of striking the NHL star and his brother while they were riding bicycles in Oldmans Township on Thursday, Aug. 29. Investigators said the Gaudreaus were on bikes close to the fog line on the north side of County Route 551. Higgins tried to pass a car and SUV while also traveling north in a black Jeep G…
Flight Crew Raises $18K For Family Of Popular Atlantic Air Nurse Jay McChesney Flight Crew Raises $18K For Family Of Popular Atlantic Air Nurse Jay McChesney
Flight Crew Raises $18K For Family Of Popular Atlantic Air Nurse Jay McChesney A fundraiser has been launched to aid the family of Jay McChesney, a New Jersey father and flight nurse who died last month at 55 years old. Jay, of Hillsborough, died on Friday, Aug. 30, leaving behind his wife, Jennette and their three children, Jordan, James, and Joe. Nicknamed an "All American Hero," Jay was a founding member of the Atlantic Air 1 medevac team and was a nurse at Robert Wood Johnson after having spent 24 years serving in the Coast Guard. As of Tuesday, Sept. 3, more than $18,000 had been raised on the GoFundMe for the McChesney family, launched by members of Jay's f…
'It Was Always Matty And John:' Pregnant Gaudreau Widow Has Special Message For Sister-In-Law 'It Was Always Matty And John:' Pregnant Gaudreau Widow Has Special Message For Sister-In-Law
'It Was Always Matty And John:' Pregnant Gaudreau Widow Has Special Message For Sister-In-Law Madeline Gaudreau is speaking out after her husband and his brother's death, leaving her a single mom-to-be — tragically, unexpectedly. Madeline, who was expecting baby Tripp with 29-year-old Matthew Gaudreau when he and his 31-year-old brother Johnny were struck and killed by suspected drunk driver and New Jersey National Guardsman, Sean Higgins. She says the two were each other's best friends. "It was always Matty & John," Madeline said on Instagram days after the Oldmans Township crash. "I can’t even put into words the bond these two had and right now I don’t have the strength.…
Matt Gaudreau Was Expecting Baby With Wife, Madeline, Campaign Says Matt Gaudreau Was Expecting Baby With Wife, Madeline, Campaign Says
Matt Gaudreau Was Expecting Baby With Wife, Madeline, Campaign Says The Gaudreau family had much to look forward to. Katie Gaudreau was set to marry Devin Joyce on Friday, Aug. 30. Johnny Gaudreau and his wife, Meredith, were weeks away from celebrating their daughter's second birthday. Matt Gaudreau and his wife, Madeline, were expecting a baby, according to a GoFundMe page launched for Madeline's future. ALSO SEE: Pregnant Gaudreau Widow Has Special Message For Sister-In-Law But the Gaudreau family's happy future was ripped away from them on Thursday, Aug. 29, when brothers Matt and Johnny were struck and killed by a DUI driver …
Bergen County Family Critical In South Carolina Road Trip Crash Bergen County Family Critical In South Carolina Road Trip Crash
Bergen County Family Critical In South Carolina Road Trip Crash Several members of a Bergen County family were in critical condition following a crash on a summer vacation. A GoFundMe launched for Vivek Talwar, his wife, Kiran Bhat Talwar, and their four children, of Cresskill, says they were on a road trip when they were involved in a crash on Friday morning, Aug. 23, outside Charleston, SC. Colleton County Fire-Rescue Vivek, Kiran, and one child remain hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, while three of their children were released from the hospital but required assistive devices to move, reads the campaign launched by Tuisha Desai…
North Jersey Loses Animal Advocate Janine Weinert Who Died Suddenly At 57 North Jersey Loses Animal Advocate Janine Weinert Who Died Suddenly At 57
North Jersey Loses Animal Advocate Janine Weinert Who Died Suddenly At 57 Hearts broke across North Jersey following the sudden death of Janine Weinert. The West Milford resident, formerly of Norwood, died unexpectedly at 57 years old, according to a GoFundMe page launched for her loved ones. Nancy Warner, the page creator, remembered Janine for her kindness and altruism. "An amazing woman, a fiercely dedicated mother to Aidan, an animal advocate and a loving and devoted partner to her soulmate Keith," Warner writes. "No matter what she was struggling with personally, she would always reach out to help anyone in need in the community. Even a perfect stranger. K…
NJ Mom Killed By Ex-BF In Murder-Suicide Days After 21st Birthday, Family Says NJ Mom Killed By Ex-BF In Murder-Suicide Days After 21st Birthday, Family Says
NJ Mom Killed By Ex-BF In Murder-Suicide Days After 21st Birthday, Family Says A young Vineland mother was killed by her ex-boyfriend in a murder-suicide, according to her family. A GoFundMe page said Mary Rodriguez died just days after celebrating her 21st birthday. She was the mother of a two-year-old boy. The GoFundMe had raised more than $12,500 from at least 199 donations as of Wednesday, Aug. 28. "Mary was filled with hopes and dreams, embarking on a transformative journey to build a secure future for herself and her little one," wrote Marianette Mercado, Rodriguez's stepmother and the fundraiser's organizer. "Her vibrant spirit touched the lives of m…
Remembering Sophia DeTorres, NJ High Schooler Killed On First Day Of School Remembering Sophia DeTorres, NJ High Schooler Killed On First Day Of School
Remembering Sophia DeTorres, NJ High Schooler Killed On First Day Of School Life was only beginning for Sophia DeTorres. The 16-year-old North Hunterdon High School student was a competitive and award-winning dancer of 11 years and had been looking at colleges, preparing for life's next chapter, according to her obituary on the Martin Funeral Home website. Sophia, who also ran cross country and track, visited Boson College, Cornell, and Wake Forest, on her early shortlist, and was hoping to major in psychology "in keeping with her drive to help people," her obituary says. But life was cut short for Sophia on Thursday, Aug. 22, when she was killed in…
Warren Hills HS Grad Taylor Cerza Dies Suddenly, 27, Leaving Behind 2 Daughters Warren Hills HS Grad Taylor Cerza Dies Suddenly, 27, Leaving Behind 2 Daughters
Warren Hills HS Grad Taylor Cerza Dies Suddenly, 27, Leaving Behind 2 Daughters Taylor M. Cerza, a Warren Hills High School graduate who lived in Hampton, died suddenly on Friday, Aug. 16 in Oxford, according to her obituary on the Warren Hills Memorial Home website. She was 27 years old. A Great Meadows native, Taylor worked as a direct support professional for Abilities of NW Jersey and was a loving mother to her two kids, Layla Knoop and Frankie Lee Golovko, her obituary says. A GoFundMe launched in Taylor's memory had raised more than $9,200 as of press time. "Taylor has two young beautiful daughters that will now have to grow up without their mommy so my fam…