Gelacio Reyes
April 4, 2017 By Hannah Wulkan
The family of a Corona man who was struck and killed by an unlicensed drunk driver in Sunnyside on Saturday is working to raise money to cover his funeral costs.
Gelacio Reyes, 32, was biking home from work on 43rd Avenue near 39th Street at around 3:00 am when he was the victim of a hit-and-run. Reyes was later pronounced dead at Elmhurst Hospital, according to police.
Now, Reyes’ family has started a GoFundMe page to raise money to help cover his funeral costs. His wife, Flor Jimenez, wrote on the page that Reyes was the main provider for the family, which included two sons and a newborn baby girl.
“I thank everyone who can help me raise money to cover funeral costs,” Jimenez wrote.
The fundraising page launched yesterday evening with a goal of $2,000 and has already surpassed that total. As of this morning, the page had raised $2,270 from 60 donations. Many of those donating on the page also left messages of condolences.
The driver, 25-year-old Cristian Guiracocha fled the scene of the accident, but was arrested several hours later in his vehicle near Laurel Hill Boulevard and 59th Street, according to Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who was briefed on the incident.
Guiracocha was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree. He was released on $100,000 bail and is due back in court April 14, said a spokesperson for Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
Reyes’ funeral will take place at 104-02 37 Avenue in Corona on April 6 from 4 to 9 p.m.
To learn more or donate to the fundraiser, visit https://www.gofundme.com/3ll8d6g.
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