POINT PLEASANT BEACH – A fundraiser was started by friends to help the family of the boy fatally struck by a train over the weekend.
According to News 12 and NJ.com, Raul Cartagena, 15, was struck at around 4:30 p.m. on August 14 by a train at the Forman Avenue crossing.
A friend, Riley Newitts, created a fundraiser at gofund.me/2ae63933. They wrote: “My friends and I wanted to do something to help one of our best friend’s family. We are all between the ages of 14-16 and we wanted to help Raul’s family have the funeral he deserves. Raul was a shining light in our family of friends and he always had a smile on his face and knew how to put one on ours even in our darkest of days. Raul was unfortunately in a fatal accident in point pleasant beach unable to be saved in time by medical help. As his friends we want to do whatever we can to help his loved ones because we too loved him so much. Raul will never be forgotten and hopefully this funeral can go towards his memory forever.”
There were no injuries reported in relation to the nine passengers and crew members on the train, they said. The age and identity of the juvenile has not been released at this time.
The incident is under investigation and NJ Transit will be providing more information as it becomes available.
