16-year-old Darwin Durazno was killed by a hit-and-run driver in College Point (GoFundMe)
June 10, 2021 By Allie Griffin
A 16-year-old boy died Monday, days after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver while riding his bike in College Point.
Darwin Durazno, of Corona, was riding his bicycle on College Point Boulevard on Friday when a driver crossed onto the wrong side of the road and struck him at around 9:30 p.m., police said.
Durazno was rushed to Jacobi Hospital and succumbed to his injuries three days later.
The driver — behind the wheel of a 2019 Toyota Camry — was traveling northbound on College Point Boulevard and crossed the double yellow lines to try to overtake another car.
The vehicle struck Durazno, who was cycling southbound on College Point Boulevard, head on, police said.
The teen was knocked off his bike onto the roadway and suffered severe head trauma, police said. EMS rushed him to Jacobi Medical Center.
The driver, however, sped off without stopping and turned right onto 15th Avenue.
Officers later recovered the vehicle — a rental car from Enterprise according to the New York Daily News — abandoned in front of 120-0715th Ave.
The suspect is still at large.
Giancarlo De Lellis, the employer of Durazno’s father, has started a GoFundMe to help the family pay for funeral arrangements.
“Although Darwin tried his best to fight through the pain and injuries he sustained, he tragically passed away on June 7th, 2021,” De Lellis, who operates a home improvement contracting business, wrote in the GoFundMe description.
“The lives of his parents, Darwin & Marisol, his big brother Anthony, and his little sister Allison, are changed forever due to this unimaginable and heartbreaking tragedy.”
The fundraiser has raised more than $6,000 — surpassing its $5,000 goal — in just a day.
“All funds will go directly to the Darwin & Marisol to help with expenses related to this unfortunate situation,” De Lellis said. “Any funds that are above and beyond the costs of services will go into a college fund for Anthony and Allison.”
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3 Comments
This reckless driving has to stop! They took one of my students away too early! Smh He was a sweetheart and funny smh I can’t believe this. His little sister was so close to him. My heart goes out to his family. He was a good kid.
Cars cause the vast majority of pedestrian deaths. But we should blame bike lanes!
This coveted bike lane you speak of??