Boy, 13, Dies After Collision Between Landscaping Truck and E-Bike

A 13-year-old boy died in New Jersey after colliding with a landscaping truck while riding an e-bike earlier this week, officials said.

The fatal crash occurred in the afternoon on Wednesday, Sept. 24, the Scotch Plains Police Department said in a statement. Around 2:12 p.m. local time, officers responded to the intersection of Mountain Avenue and Mountainview Avenue, where they found the teen — identified by loved ones as Nico Lombardi — with critical injuries.

The Scotch Plains Fire Department EMS transported him to a hospital in Newark, but he later died from his injuries.

The driver of the landscaping truck was located near the scene and is cooperating with investigators. Additional details about how the crash occurred have not been released, but an investigation is ongoing.

Scotch Plains Mayor Josh Losardo expressed “profound sadness” in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

“This heartbreaking loss is felt across our entire community. The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education has been notified, and they are preparing to have counselors available to support students and staff during this difficult time,” Losardo said.

He went on to share that a memorial for Nico will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Rossi Funeral Home.

“At moments like this, it is more important than ever that we come together as a community, to support one another, to lean on each other, and to show compassion in the face of tragedy,” the mayor wrote. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of this child. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they endure the unimaginable.”

In a GoFundMe page set up on behalf of his family — which has raised over 152,000 as of Friday, Sept. 26 — Nico was remembered for his deep love of basketball.

As they grieve, his family is now working to establish a basketball scholarship in his name at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.

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“This scholarship will honor his memory by supporting student athletes who share that same love for the sport,” read a message on the fundraising page. “In addition to this scholarship, the family will be making donations to the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Police Athletic League (PAL) in Nico’s honor to establish scholarships as well.”

According to his obituary, Nico is survived by his parents and his two “devoted siblings.”