Authorities have identified the 16-year-old boy struck and killed by a tow truck while riding a Lime e-scooter in Elizabeth on Wednesday.
Nelson Miranda Gomez, of Elizabeth, was hit as the truck turned right onto South Spring Street from Elizabeth Avenue at around 8:05 p.m., officials said. He died of his injuries a short time later, officials said.
No charges have been filed against the tow truck driver, who stopped after hitting the teen.
“This was a tragic accident and my thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of this young man," Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage said earlier Thursday. “The City Council will discuss the parameters of its relationship with Lime.”
Seventeen candles were lit as part of a makeshift memorial near the site of the crash. A baseball, teddy bear, orange handkerchief and silver chain were placed in the memorial.
“Love you big bro,” one person wrote on a note that was attached to a candle. “I hope (you’re) doing better up there. Never will be forgotten. Long live Nelson.”
Mike Festa, who has lived near the intersection where the crash happened for about 10 years, didn’t see the collision, but heard it. He said minor accidents along Elizabeth Avenue are commonplace.
“I heard a bang,” Festa told NJ Advance Media. “I saw the truck and 10 police cars.”
Riders must be 18-years-old to rent a Lime scooter, according to the company’s user agreement. But Jose Santiago, who works at a business just off of Elizabeth Avenue, said he often sees kids in the area riding the electric scooters because it’s close to a high school.
“It’s something fun," Santiago said. “It’s just everybody has to go by the law.”
Miranda Gomez was a student at the John E. Dwyer Technology Academy in Elizabeth. Elizabeth school superintendent Olga Hugelmeyer released a statement about the teen’s death without naming him.
“We offer our thought and prayers to family and friends of the student who has passed as they endure this tremendous loss,” she wrote. “May they find peace during this difficult time.”
She added that grief counseling has been made available.
Last month, Elizabeth launched a program in which 400 electric scooters were made available for rent at a cost of $1 to unlock and 20 cents per minute to ride. The scooters are also GPS-enabled, allowing users to find, unlock, and pick up a nearby scooter using their smartphone. Riders can end their rides on the app and park the scooter by the street curb or a bike rack.
Elizabeth introduced the scooters as a six-month pilot program and receives a revenue share to offset the policing costs.
Salaam Ismial, an activist and outspoken critic of the city, said he raised concerns when the scooters were approved.
“I was there when they approved it,” Ismial said while standing near the site of the crash. “I said this is not a good thing. There’s no bike lanes. There’s no plan where these (scooters) cannot be used, like on Broad Street. So they go on the sidewalks.”
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico.
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