Henry Garcia, 13, victim of hit and run at 80th Street & 20th Avenue in Bensonhurst -- Photo by Dennis Slattery
The family of a 13-year-old boy who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Bensonhurst is struggling to scrape together the cash to bury their son.
Henry Garcia had just fallen off his bike on Saturday when a green Ford Explorer barreled into the unsuspecting teen.
Now, the cash-strapped immigrant family from Guatemala is trying to come up with the money to cover the cost for their sons funeral and emergency care.
Its just so hard right now, said the boys father, Juan. We just dont know how were going to pay for everything.
Garcia was on his way home after paying the family electric bill on Saturday. He was only three blocks away when he suddenly fell off his bike on 20th Ave. near 80th St. Thats when he was fatally struck by the SUV. The driver fled the scene.
Juan, who earns $ 500 a week working for a neighborhood bakery - said the family is planning to fly the body to Guatemala Friday and bury the boy there.
St. Finbar Church pastor Father Michael Gelfant said hes made arraignments for the wake at Las Rosas Funeral Home on Wednesday and donated the funeral mass on Thursday.
This family has no money to pay for this. They live check to check, said Gelfant. Were doing everything we can to make sure this is taken care of.
State Sen. Marty Golden (R-Bay Ridge) kicked in $ 100 from his own pocket and pledged to donate more if theyre still coming up short.
It's the right thing to do and so important for our community to help this family and to give them the support they need... said Golden.
Investigators are still pouring over surveillance footage looking for clues that will lead them to the driver.
I want justice, said Juan. I hope they catch the person who took my sons life. No one else should have to go through this.
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