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South Jersey Truck Driver Allegedly Caught On Video Images In Fatal Hit-Run Crash: Prosecutor South Jersey Truck Driver Allegedly Caught On Video Images In Fatal Hit-Run Crash: Prosecutor
South Jersey Truck Driver Allegedly Caught On Video Images In Fatal Hit-Run Crash: Prosecutor A 51-year-old man from Camden County has been charged  in a fatal hit-and-run crash that allegedly resulted in the death of a 54-year-old pedestrian from Mercer County, authorities said. The fatal crash occurred shortly before sunrise Monday on Route 1 northbound at Bakers Basin Road in Lawrence Township.  The Route 1 crash victim was found dead at the scene about 45 minutes after surveillance video captures an image of a suspected tractor-trailer striking her before sunrise, authorities said Wednesday A passing motorist called 9-11 reporting a victim int he roadway  about …

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by Jon Craig
Neighbors
Community Helps Save Struggling Jersey Shore Family's Home Community Helps Save Struggling Jersey Shore Family's Home
Community Helps Save Struggling Jersey Shore Family's Home A Jersey Shore community helped save a Toms River family's home. At least 570 donors chipped in to help Andrew Holden's family save their home after it got listed for tax sale in 2019.  The family also got behind on food, medical and other family bills in the decade since his father's unexpected death on Christmas Day 2009, he wrote on this GoFundMe page. Andrew, who created the page, said his sister has Down's Syndrome and epilepsy and is paralyzed from strokes while his mother also has been ill. "My mom has many medical problems that make it hard for her to leave the home let alone…

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by Jon Craig
News
Outpouring Of Community Support For Shailesh K. Upadhyay Dahal, Friends Of Nepal Scholarship Outpouring Of Community Support For Shailesh K. Upadhyay Dahal, Friends Of Nepal Scholarship
Outpouring Of Community Support For Shailesh K. Upadhyay Dahal, Friends Of Nepal Scholarship There's been an outpouring of community support for a scholarship fund in memory of Shailesh K. (Upadhyay) Dahal. The Sayreville resident died on Sept. 22 at the age of 65. A GoFundMe page launched by Friends of Nepal had raised more than $12,600 as of Saturday afternoon The GoFundMe page was created to help with funeral costs as well as set up a special memorial scholarship in Shailesh’s name back in Patan, Nepal where he was born "so that we can remember his life and legacy for many years to come." "Our hearts are truly broken," the GoFundMe page says. "Shailesh positively affected the …

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by Jon Craig
News
Bogota Boy Struck By Sedan Gets New Bike Following Daily Voice Story Bogota Boy Struck By Sedan Gets New Bike Following Daily Voice Story
Bogota Boy Struck By Sedan Gets New Bike Following Daily Voice Story A Bogota boy who was hospitalized after he was hit by a car on his bicycle got a new pair of wheels thanks to the kindness of fellow residents. After reading about the 14-year-old boy's mishap on Daily Voice, borough resident Sherry Solomov headed up an effort that raised nearly $800, Bogota Police Sgt. Geoffrey Cole said. It was enough to get the boy a new bike and lock, as well as a gift card, Cole said. Fifty or so people in all donated, he said. The boy was treated at Hackensack University Medical Center for an arm injury after the July 31 accident on Larch Avenue near his home.&…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
$70K+ Raised For Family Of Boy, 8, Killed In House Fire Caused By Fireworks $70K+ Raised For Family Of Boy, 8, Killed In House Fire Caused By Fireworks
$70K+ Raised For Family Of Boy, 8, Killed In House Fire Caused By Fireworks The Hawkins family lost their 8-year-old son in a house fire caused by improperly disposed fireworks on Saturday; now their community has rallied to help them. 1567 Poplar Terrace in West York was once the loving home of a family of four, but around 11 p.m. on Independence Day everything changed. Improperly disposed of fireworks outside the duplex-style residence set the home ablaze with crews remaining on the scene until 4 a.m. The fire claimed the life of Elijah, 8; severely burned his brother Evan, 6; and burned their parents Jacob and Brittany Hawkins. Elijah died at a Maryland hosp…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
Community Rallies Around Family Of Bergen Boy, 12, Seriously Injured In Sledding Accident Community Rallies Around Family Of Bergen Boy, 12, Seriously Injured In Sledding Accident
Community Rallies Around Family Of Bergen Boy, 12, Seriously Injured In Sledding Accident An overwhelming outpouring of love and support has lifted the hearts of a 12-year-old Oradell boy and his family as he continues his recovery from a serious sledding accident. Noah Ryback was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center after he was injured while sledding with friends in Van Saun Park in Paramus on Feb. 8. Following surgery, he was transferred to Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, where he’s “receiving all the treatment and rehabilitation that he needs,” Noah’s father posted in the “Team Noah” Facebook group. “He is eating, moving around, getting stronger…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
5 Pet Snakes Rescued, 2 Dogs Dead In Christmas Eve Fire That Ravaged Metuchen Family's Home 5 Pet Snakes Rescued, 2 Dogs Dead In Christmas Eve Fire That Ravaged Metuchen Family's Home
5 Pet Snakes Rescued, 2 Dogs Dead In Christmas Eve Fire That Ravaged Metuchen Family's Home Support is surging for a Metuchen family following a Christmas Eve fire that ravaged their home, killing their two dogs, family members and neighbors say. The fire at the Mojica family's Park Place house broke out at approximately 8:25 p.m. -- about 10 minutes after they'd left for the night, fire officials and family members said. The home was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived, as flames consumed all three floors. Firefighters rescued five pet snakes from the basement, although two family dogs died, the Metuchen Fire Department said. More than $21,100 had been raised on a GoFundMe…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Elizabeth Fire: 4 Killed Were Furniture Shopping, Thousands Raised For Grieving Mom Elizabeth Fire: 4 Killed Were Furniture Shopping, Thousands Raised For Grieving Mom
Elizabeth Fire: 4 Killed Were Furniture Shopping, Thousands Raised For Grieving Mom The community is coming together in support of an Elizabeth mom critically injured in a Monday night fire that killed two of her daughters, their young friend an adult female. More than $11,425 had been raised on the GoFundMe for Merlin Vazquez as of Tuesday afternoon. Vazquez, 36, was furniture shopping on the second floor of 871 Elizabeth Ave., when the fire broke out in a soda machine in the dollar store downstairs around 6 p.m., ABC7 reports. Victims tried getting out of the back door of the second floor, but were trapped due to a locked gate, a city spokeswoman said. Vazquez's daught…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
'Gut Wrenching': East Brunswick Neighbors Raise Money For Grieving Dad After Drowning 'Gut Wrenching': East Brunswick Neighbors Raise Money For Grieving Dad After Drowning
'Gut Wrenching': East Brunswick Neighbors Raise Money For Grieving Dad After Drowning East Brunswick neighbors are rallying for a local dad mourning the loss of his wife, daughter and father, who drowned in their backyard pool earlier this week. More than $28,700 had been raised as of Friday afternoon for Akash Patel on a GoFundMe, organized by Sarah Grabowski. Funds from the page will go toward funeral services for Akash's wife Nisha Patel, 33, father Bharat Patel, 62, and 8-year-old daughter. "Only weeks living in their new home, on June 22nd, the most heartbreaking and unimaginable thing happened," Grabowski wrote. "On a very hot June afternoon, Akash’s wife an…

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by Jon Craig
Lifestyle
Community Helps North Plainfield Couple Rebuild After Home Destroyed By Arsonist Community Helps North Plainfield Couple Rebuild After Home Destroyed By Arsonist
Community Helps North Plainfield Couple Rebuild After Home Destroyed By Arsonist The community is rallying for an engaged North Plainfield couple whose home under construction was destroyed by an arsonist. Mike Carroccia, 25, and his fiancé, Taylor Miller, 24, awoke to a phone call from a neighbor shortly before 3 a.m. on May 27, with some devastating news. “Your house is on fire -- the roof just collapsed and your front door has fallen down,” the neighbor told them. Mike and Taylor immediately jumped out of bed and ran out the door to check on the state of the home, and they couldn’t believe their eyes. “Watching the firefighters, seeing our neighbors homes catch fir…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
Trapped Fire Chief Low On Air 'Self-Rescues' From Engulfed Jersey Shore Home Trapped Fire Chief Low On Air 'Self-Rescues' From Engulfed Jersey Shore Home
Trapped Fire Chief Low On Air 'Self-Rescues' From Engulfed Jersey Shore Home A photographer captured an image of a working fire chief escaping a multi-alarm blaze that destroyed two Jersey Shore homes Tuesday. Long Branch Fire Chief Ronald Guidetti was trapped by flames on the top floor of one of the Monmouth Beach homes, the Long Branch Professional Firefighters FMBA Local 68 said Wednesday in a post. “Unable to utilize the interior stairwell, he made his way to a window and found no egress ladder,” the firefighters association said. “He removed his face piece as he was running out of air to get the attention of members operating on the exterior. “The chief self…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
VIDEO: Have You Seen This View Of Hackensack First Responders' 'Clap Out' At HUMC? VIDEO: Have You Seen This View Of Hackensack First Responders' 'Clap Out' At HUMC?
Video: Have You Seen This View Of Hackensack First Responders' 'Clap Out' At Humc? You've probably heard by now about the "clap out" staged this week by Hackensack police and firefighters, one of several such events honoring health care workers throughout the country. With emergency lights flashing and sirens blazing, the city's finest and bravest joined residents in showing their appreciation and support for the Hackensack University Medical Center staff Tuesday night as the battle against coronavirus continues. "It's great to see such a positive event in these difficult times," Detective Capt. Darrin DeWitt said. "The residents and businesses have be…

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by Jerry DeMarco