Ommatt Cruz: GoFundMe Raises $19K for Teen Fatally Injured by Construction Equipment His Father Operated

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New York City, New York: Ommat Cruz, a 19-year-old man, died on Friday, November 17, when he was struck by what New York City officials believe was construction equipment operated by his own father.

Police said in a statement that the devastating incident happened shortly after 8:30 a.m. at First Avenue and East Seventh Street in the East Village.

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Ommat Cruz was ‘hit and knocked over’ while helping with traffic control

According to PEOPLE, Cruz was “acting as a guide to assist with traffic control for the Lyft” and “when the Lyft entered the intersection,” it “struck and knocked him down” before running him over, according to police.

Officials said the youth’s father was the equipment operator at the time.

Is Ommat Cruz’s father arrested?

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Police have yet to confirm the identity of the forklift driver, but officials said the operator remained at the scene after the tragic incident.

No arrests have been made in this case. “The incident remains under investigation by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad,” police said.

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Who is Omyat Cruz?

Cruz was a member of his Staten Island high school’s varsity football team, where he continued his involvement after graduation.

In an announcement on Instagram on Sunday, Nov. 19, Susan E. Wagner High School paid tribute to Cruz.

“In light of this terrible tragedy, please keep the Ommat family and the Wagner High School community in your thoughts,” read the school’s post.

The school claims to offer counseling support throughout the week.

Check out this post on Instagram

A post shared by Susan Wagner Athletics (@sewfalconsathletics).

Speaking to The Staten Island Advice, Wagner head football coach Arthur Newcomb said, “He’s a really good kid. Hard worker and player. Everyone liked him. “

“He has a brother on the team and he comes to help us and is around the team. We’re kind of in shock,” he added.

GoFundMe calls Omat Cruz a ‘selfless’ young man

A GoFundMe page has been set up for any “unexpected expenses” and has raised more than $19,000 as of Monday morning, Nov. 20.

The administrator described Cruz as a “loving and adoring son to his parents” and a “devoted and loving brother to his 14-year-old brother and nine-year-old sister.”

Cruise had recently turned 19, three months before the tragedy. “To our boys on the Wagner Falcons football team, he was a brother,” read one message on the GoFundMe.

“To parents and coaches, his family is our family. He was always there to help others, he was selfless,” read the message.

“He is in his first year of college and still finds time to get on the field and help out with his younger brother on the JV team. We want to help his family with the unexpected expenses due to this terrible tragedy,” the message concluded.