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"The maroon or red semi-trailer truck slowed down to a stop in the right lane of Route 17 South due to traffic ahead" around 8:40 p.m. Tuesday, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.
Motorcyclist Mario Andres Uran Gaviria, 41, couldn't stop in time and hit the "bobtail" truck from behind in front of Allied Carpet, the prosecutor said.
Gaviria, previously of Montgomery Village, MD, was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:35 p.m., Musella said.
"Could be a Schneider truck," a Daily Voice reader wrote. "It's clean, a Freightliner, colors right. Couldn't make out a name on the door. Sorta looked like there was no name on the door.
"Bobtails can really bounce," he added. "If the bike hit the mud flap hanger area it would be possible to assume it was nothing but the road. Too bad. If one is following to close it's real hard to see around a car -- let alone a bobtail."
Musella asked that anyone who might have witnessed the incident, saw something or has information that can help identify the semi and/or driver contact his Fatal Accident Investigation Unit at (201) 226-5595 or Rochelle Park police at (201) 843-1515.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help Gaviria's family: Father & Husband Fatally Struck (GoFundMe).
Mario "had a heart of gold and would lighten up any room with his awesome personality," wrote Maria Lopez, who organized the fundraiser. "His devotion to his work, his family & his friends was felt by everyone."
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