Crime & Safety

Friends Create Facebook Group To Commemorate Life Of Teen Killed In Bus Accident

Friends say victim was 'happy' leading up to his accidental death

Friends of Daniel Fernandez, a 16-year-old who was killed after sticking his head out of a roof hatch on a party bus and hitting an overpass as the vehicle drove on Interstate 95 in Fort Lee Friday evening, have created a Facebook group to share memories and messages about the teen.

According to a Fox News report, Fernandez was from Sayreville, N.J. The teen was traveling on a Designer Limousines party bus with over 60 other teens going to a Sweet 16 birthday party.

A friend created the group at around midnight Saturday. The first post, by Anthony DeLaRosa, reads, “God bless his soul & Rest in peace Daniel Fernandez.”

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Since then, 946 members have joined the group and hundreds have written messages to and about the late teen.

According to the NY Daily News, Fernandez attended St. Francis Prep in Queens, N.Y.

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At about 12:30 p.m. Friday, Steven Wasserfall posted to the memorial Facebook wall that an upcoming event at the school will be renamed in Fernandez’s honor.

“I already got approved that the walk-a-thon at Prep has been changed to the Daniel Fernandez Memorial Walk. I know everyone's dreading the walk-a-thon but this is obviously turned into something bigger. More details to come. RIP Dan Fernandez, you were such a great kid. You will never be forgotten,” he posted on the wall.

Many users commented that it was emotionally difficult to read all of the posts about the teenager’s untimely death, especially those that commented specifically about his love of Sweet 16 parties, and from other teens on the bus ride with Fernandez Friday night.

Saturday morning, Taylor Martin posted “seeing the story on the news and thinking of how happy you were 5 minutes before this all [happened] doesn't make this any better.” Another friend, Joe LoBosco, added “it's goin 2 be hard not having my dance partner at sweet16s anymore cause u were the life of every party.”


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