The family of the 20-year-old Bronx woman struck and killed by a police car earlier this month is trying to raise money to send her body back to her parents in Guatemala to be buried.
A vigil for Sofia Gomez was held where the accident happened Friday.
Gomez was born in Guatemala but came to the United States only three months ago, according to her cousin. Her family says she came here in hopes of becoming a nurse. Gomez was walking in the crosswalk when she was hit, and police say the car that struck was responding to a call for backup on the Throgs Neck Bridge.
Clergy and loved ones gathered near the corner of Wallace Avenue and the parkway where she was struck to pray and remember
her life.
Her cousin says he recently spoke with her father back in Guatemala. “He’s still like... he can’t believe it. He said I can’t believe that happened to my daughter, so the family is really, really sad,” said Gomez’ cousin Irene Estrada-Rukaj.
The family says they plan to sue the NYPD for $20 million--$10 million for pain and suffering and another $10 million for wrongful
death.