A tragic hit-and-run incident in South River claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy on Friday. The driver responsible for the accident is now facing charges. The heart-wrenching scene was captured on camera by a witness, David Gudzak, who was left deeply affected by what he saw. The victim, identified as Bryan Barbosa by his friends, was riding his bicycle when he was struck by a white van. Shockingly, the driver fled the scene, leaving the teenager injured and alone.
David Gudzak, a father of two teenagers himself, was outside his home when he witnessed the horrifying incident unfold. He described seeing the lifeless body of the young boy lying in the middle of the road. Gudzak’s surveillance camera recorded the moment when the 14-year-old was hit by the white van, and the driver callously continued driving. The teenager’s friends, devastated by the loss, remembered Bryan as a talented athlete with a promising future. They revealed that he was on his way to hang out with a friend when the accident occurred.
The news of the hit-and-run spread quickly through the small town of South River, leaving the community in shock and mourning. The local police credited Gudzak’s surveillance footage as instrumental in identifying the suspect. By the end of Friday, they had apprehended 63-year-old Michael Arena, a resident of South River, and charged him in connection with the incident. South River Mayor John Krenzel expressed gratitude for the community’s involvement in helping to bring the suspect to justice.
The tragic loss of Bryan Barbosa has deeply affected not only his friends and family but also the entire community of South River. The site where the accident occurred has become a painful reminder of the young boy’s untimely death.