By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
EDISON — Schools Superintendent Richard O’Malley said district grief counselors and counselors from Rutgers Behavioral Health have been on hand this week at Lincoln Elementary School as the district mourns the loss of a fifth-grade student who was fatally struck by a motor vehicle last week.
Askari Moore, 11, of Reading Road at the Durham Woods apartments, was riding a skateboard when he was struck by a 2009 Honda Accord at about 7 p.m., May 20, in the parking lot of the apartment complex, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Police Chief Thomas Bryan.
The youngster was pronounced dead at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick at 7:18 p.m., according to police.
Authorities said the identity of the driver, as of May 23, was being withheld since no charges had been filed.
Lincoln Elementary Principal Timothy Hart sent a letter out to school families on May 21.
“There are no words that can adequately express the loss of a child, especially at such a young age,” he wrote.
With the letter, which is posted on the school’s website, Hart included additional crisis information.
Board of Education President Frank Heelan said their hearts go out to the Moore family. He said the board held a minute of silence to pray for the boy at the board meeting on May 23.
An Askari “Rest in Peace” Go Fund Me campaign was set up by his mom, Shakera Moore, on May 22 seeking funds to help her bury her only son. She posted a photo of her smiling son on the page.
As of May 23, over $20,000 was raised by close to 500 people over a two-day period with notes of heartfelt condolences and prayers for the family.
Moore posted how grateful she is for the donations, words of encouragement and strength.
Edison police said the prosecutor’s office is leading the investigation, which is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Joseph Chonka of the Edison Police Department at (732) 248-7400 or Detective Donald Heck of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (723) 745-3300.
