Loss of N.J. man, 57, killed after getting struck by a vehicle, has ‘shattered’ family, mom says – NJ.com

Bertha Zúñiga was getting ready to watch her weekly soap opera Friday night. It was after 10 p.m. when police knocked on her door in Belleville. The officers said her son, Miguel Vargas, was crossing the street in the city earlier that night when he was hit by a vehicle, she recalled Thursday.

Much of what happened next is a blur to the 73-year-old mother.

Zúñiga called an Uber. She arrived at University Hospital in Newark where she was told her son was being treated. Anxious for updates, she sat in a waiting room — unable to sleep due to nerves.

Hours later, at close to 4 a.m. Saturday, the news came while she sat alone waiting for family to arrive: her son had died from his injuries.

“I said, ‘What? What did you say?’” Zúñiga told NJ Advance Media in Spanish, unable to fight back tears. “They asked if I wanted to go in and see him and I just couldn’t. I didn’t have the strength. I didn’t know what to do.”

Hospital staff helped Zúñiga try to compose herself and provided her a glass of water. She was in shock, she said.

Nearly a week after the incident, Noelia Rosales, Vargas’ youngest sister, said the family is also still waiting for details on what exactly happened to Vargas.

“We’re consternated. We see him one day and then, just like that, he’s gone,” said Rosales, 43. “He never hurt anybody, never did anything to anyone. Psychologically we’re bad. We don’t know how to find justice in this.”

Vargas, 57, of Belleville, was struck while crossing Washington Avenue in the city at about 10 p.m. on Friday, Katherine Carter, a spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, said Sunday.

What Vargas was doing at the time he was hit is not currently known, but Rosales believes he was on his way back home — based on where the collision took place.

“My mom, she’s over 70 year’s old, she’s shattered, she’s very shattered,” Rosales said while crying.

Vargas is survived by eight other siblings and two children, Alexandra and Miguel. He came to the United States from Lima, Peru, over 20 years ago and was in the process of obtaining his citizenship, Rosales said.

Vargas has more than 30 family members living in the United States, with most of the remaining family living in Peru, his mother said.

In addition to working construction, Vargas was dedicated to helping his children acquire the proper documents to join him in New Jersey. He hadn’t seen them in over 20 years.

“Miguel left to come here as an immigrant when his girl was 3 years old and his boy, 4 years old. He was working hard for them. We all want a better future for our kids,” his youngest sister, Rosales, said.

Right now, the family is in the process of applying for humanitarian visas for Alexandra and Miguel in order to hold a funeral and “proper goodbye” for Vargas here, Rosales said. The visas are available during urgent humanitarian circumstances, allowing for temporary stays in the U.S.

Rosales said Vargas’ kids are “shattered” after his loss and hopeful they can briefly join the family for his viewing.

In order to hold a ceremony for Vargas, the family will also need to obtain his body, Rosales noted. However, so far police have told the family that won’t be possible right away as the investigation is still ongoing, she said.

Thomas S. Fennelly, chief assistant prosecutor for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, said Wednesday evening that the incident remains under investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Belleville Police Department.

Fennelly said the incident has not been investigated as a hit and run. As of Thursday afternoon, no charges have been filed.

The release of Vargas’ remains is handled by the NJ Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, he added. The medical examiner’s office did not immediately provide comment.

“We consider the U.S. our country, we work hard. we’re Latinos and we’re humans too. We want the kids to come here and join us for his last goodbye, that was his last wish, for his kids to come,” Rosales said. “We hope our mom has the strength to go without his company and that God have him in his glory.”

Zúñiga, who works as a homemaker, said her son was caring and hard-working. On his off time, he enjoyed spending time with family and joining them for parties they’d host at home.

“I haven’t thrown any of his clothes away. When I see his mattress I, I don’t have the strength…,” Zúñiga said.

As of Thursday, Rosales said, the family was still waiting on more information.

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Steven Rodas may be reached at srodas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @stevenrodasnj.