After 8-year-old's death, Parsippany mayor vows to improve traffic safety
William WesthovenAfter four fatal vehicle accidents in four months − the most recent involving an 8-year-old boy killed while riding his bike Tuesday − Parsippany Mayor James Barberio is calling on state and county authorities to take action.
"Safety cannot take a back seat," Barberio wrote in a public statement released Wednesday, two days after Avyaan Gupta, 8, was struck by an SUV while riding along Littleton Road. The Intervale School student was pronounced dead at the scene.
"In the wake of recent fatalities on state and county roads here in Parsippany, I am calling for action from the New Jersey Department of Transportation to increase pedestrian safety and respond with a fix on their roads," Barberio said in his statement.
"I’m asking for the county’s help and commitment to slow down vehicles and reduce the overall risk to our residents and visitors on their roads."
"It is hard to fathom a family losing their 8-year-old son," Barberio added. "Avyaan was smart, funny and above all, dearly loved by his family."
The SUV driver remained at the scene and was cooperating in the investigation, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said earlier this week.
Four fatalities on Parsippany roads
The boy's death follows three other traffic-related fatalities in Parsippany since early spring.
In the first, Sonia Diaz, 73, of Bayonne, was struck and killed by a Jeep Cherokee attempting to cross Route 46 on April 8.
On May 6, a 36-year-old female driver was killed in a two-vehicle crash in town, according to Meghan Knab, a spokeswoman for the Prosecutor’s Office. Then, on June 6, a male pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle on Route 46 near Baldwin Road. The victims' names were not immediately available.
Online fundraiser for Avyaan Gupta
An online fundraiser launched on Wednesday for the Gupta family had already surpassed its goal of $50,000 by Thursday morning, with more than 800 individuals pledging contributions. Donations were suspended after it reached the goal.
The boy was riding a bicycle across Littleton from the Troy Gardens apartment complex to another development, Cambridge Village, with two other friends when he was struck, according to the fundraiser.
Avyaan was born in Ajmer, India, and first came to the United States in 2016, before immigrating permanently in 2020, according to an obituary posted by the S.J. Pirola funeral home. He is survived by his parents, Aakash and Reema (Jain) Gupta; his sister Aanya; and relatives and friends in the United States and India.
The accident occurred just "blocks from his home," the obituary said.
Mayor promises 'aggressive' traffic enforcement
The mayor said this latest tragedy has also moved him to coordinate with Police Chief Richard Pantina "to implement aggressive action to slow cars down on Parsippany roads and to be relentless in enforcing the laws to save lives and protect our community."
Local police will "immediately begin expanded enforcement against drivers who fail to recognize the importance of pedestrians and bicyclists on our streets," the mayor added.
Barberio also said he is directing the municipal engineering department to prioritize pedestrian safety during ongoing and future road projects.
"Instead of just focusing on pavement condition and paving the street in kind, they are to layer in safety improvements for all resurfacing projects," he said.
William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com
Twitter/X: @wwesthoven