'He was very friendly, beautiful': Community mourns Dover teen fatally struck by train, calls for more safety measures
Cristofer Chavez Huamani was killed April 16 while crossing tracks near the Rockaway River in Dover.
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Local officials and community members are calling for additional safety measures near the tracks a month after a New Jersey Transit train fatally struck a Dover high school student.
Cristofer Chavez Huamani was killed April 16 while crossing tracks near the Rockaway River in Dover.
"He was very friendly, beautiful. He loved to smile,” said Cristofer's mother, Erika Huamani.
Residents told News 12 the area where the incident occurred is near an unauthorized but popular swimming spot. They say it is common for local teens to cross the tracks to access the area.
Erika Huamani was in Peru on Saturday but spoke with News 12 via Zoom alongside her pastor.
“I don’t wish upon anyone to go through what I have gone through. It’s a very difficult situation, and I’m still processing it," Huamani said.
She said she believes access to the tracks is too easy and that there isn't enough bilingual signage.
“What I would really like is for there to be a fence. You have kids that are wearing earbuds, listening to music, talking to each other. They’re distracted,” she said.
Dover Mayor James Dodd is also calling for action. In a recent social media post, he raised concerns about safety along NJ Transit rail lines and called for improvements.
Local leaders told News 12 education is another key part of prevention.
“As we gather with the children, they’re bringing it up themselves, looking for support," said Pastor at Garden Chapel Church Hector Quinones Lopez. "We take those opportunities to listen to them and pray for them but also to guide and remind them that they need to be cautious.”
A GoFundMe created to support Huamani had raised more than $13,000 as of Saturday night.
NJ Transit released the following statement about the incident:
"The safety of our customers and communities is our highest priority, and we appreciate the Mayor’s concern regarding this important issue. We have a meeting scheduled this week with his office to discuss the township's concerns. Any incident involving railroad tracks is deeply troubling and serves as a stark reminder that railroad tracks are never safe places for pedestrians. Trains can approach quickly and quietly, and they require significant distances to stop.
The public should only cross tracks at designated crossings, obey all warning devices and barriers, and never walk along railroad right-of-way areas. This includes all residents - elected or not - as it is not only ill-advised, but it is also illegal. A momentary shortcut can have tragic consequences, and we remain committed to working with local officials and community partners to promote rail safety and prevent future incidents."
