Family mourns crash victim
BRIDGEPORT — Family members of Vincent “TJ” Annuzzi-Rivera say the 19-year-old Bridgeport man was well-liked and that he loved life.
Annuzzi-Rivera was driving a dirt bike on Lori Drive in Milford around 3 p.m. Tuesday, when he struck a parked dump truck near Teresa Drive, “resulting in fatal injuries,” police said.
On Wednesday, family members and friends shared their condolences on a GoFundMe page created by the victim’s mother, and on a Facebook post shared by his sister.
Annuzzi-Rivera was a Platt Technical High School graduate, according to his mother, Angela AnnuzziRivera. He graduated in 2016 after studying plumbing at the school.
“Vincent had (a) rough start in life but turned out to be a very well-liked young man,” she wrote on the GoFundMe page.
Angela AnnuzziRivera created the fundraising page to help cover the expenses associated with her son’s untimely death. As of 4:50 p.m. Wednesday, friends and family had donated $1,225 toward a $10,000 campaign goal.
Nilda Rivera, the victim’s sister, shared funeral arrangements for her brother on Facebook Wednesday afternoon.
“We are devastated by this tragic loss in our family and miss Vincent (TJ) Annuzzi-Rivera greatly,” Rivera said.
Services will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral Parish at 359 Washington Ave. in Bridgeport. The burial will immediately follow at Park Cemetery at 620 Lindley St. in Bridgeport.
“Anyone who knew Vincent … knew he loved life, (was) always looking to have a good time,” Angela Annuzzi-Rivera wrote. “His contagious laugh will live on in our memories forever.”
Anyone with information about the accident can contact the Milford Police Department Traffic Division at 203-878-5244 or contact Officer Dan Hemperly at 203-783-4792 or at dhemperly@ci.milford.ct.us in reference to case number 2896-18.