South River mother forgives man who struck and killed her son before driving away

NEW BRUNSWICK – A South River mother whose only child, a 14-year-old boy, was struck and killed by a borough man in a hit-and-run crash last year, offered him a single rose before he was sentenced to 15 years in state prison.

"After all the pain you caused me, I forgive you from the bottom of my heart. I will never have my son back. I forgive you," said Ana Cristina Teodoro through a translator to 64-year-old Michael Arena, during an emotional three-hour sentencing Wednesday before Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Sheree Pitchford.

"I will always love you, Bryan. I miss you so much," Teodoro said through tears about her son, Bryan Barbosa, who was killed while riding his bicycle in South River last summer. She described her son as her "greatest pride" and said his death has left her heart in pieces as she lives a life with no hope because a part of her died on the day her son was killed.

Luiz Barbosa said through a translator that he feels anger and sadness over the loss of his son.

"I hope you think about your actions and repent for what you did. I can never pardon you completely. I will try to wish you peace and understanding," Barbosa said, adding his son's death has destroyed his wife's life.

The parents were joined at the sentencing by a row filled with some of their son's friends, wearing black shirts with photos of Barbosa and the words "Justice for Bryan."

Arena, who was represented by attorney Jonathan Kessous, also offered his apologies to the family.

"I cannot say I'm sorry enough for your devastation and hardship that I have brought to your life, to not see your son grow up to be a man of his own. I can feel your pain in my heart too. I wish we could turn back the time to have a better day for both of us,” Arena said, adding his own family’s life is in turmoil. "I placed a burden on my life forever I will never forget. I'm so sorry for your loss. God have mercy on my soul. May God be with you."

Pitchford sentenced Arena to five years in state prison on a vehicular homicide charge, and 10 years for leaving the scene of a vehicle homicide with the two prison terms to run consecutively. The five-year sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act which means he must serve 85 percent of the term before becoming eligible for parole. Arena has accumulated more than 275 days in jail.

Arena will have three years’ parole supervision after his release and his driver's license will be suspended for a year.

Pitchford noted Arena had 14 previous vehicle-related convictions from Delaware, including seven involving driving under the influence, and has been using alcohol since age 20, but was sober at the time of the crash and apparently had a few beers at a South River restaurant after killing the boy.

"What stands out to this court is his driving history. It is relevant. Mr. Arena has found himself in jail, in prison, for being behind the wheel and none of that has stopped him from violating the law," Pitchford said.

Arena pleaded guilty in December to vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash resulting in death, both second-degree crimes, and a motor vehicle ticket for leaving the scene of a fatal crash.

Around 4:21 p.m. July 7, 2023, Barbosa was riding his bicycle near the intersection of Whitehead and Russell avenues, apparently heading to a friend's house, when he was struck by a white work van that fled the scene. Barbosa was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

An investigation identified Arena as the driver, and he was arrested at his South River home later that day. His white work van, suspected in Barbosa's death, was found parked in the driveway. Police said he admitted to driving the van at the time of the crash, which was captured on a neighbor's video security camera.

The judge called what she saw on the video and Arena’s response "deplorable." She said the video showed someone on a bicycle in front of Arena's vehicle before they both veered over into the oncoming lane. She said Arena knew he hit something because he stopped the vehicle and he saw the person who was in front of him was no longer there, and that's when he ran over Barbosa again, and then kept going.

She said the autopsy report showed the damage caused in the crash was horrendous.

"This case wasn't about racism, it wasn't about him intentionally aiming for Bryan, but he was reckless and he was stupid and that's all it takes to take another life when you're driving a motor vehicle," said Assistant Prosecutor Keith Abrams, adding this was a man who ran over a boy with his car and didn't look to see where the teen was before accelerating forward and taking off because he panicked.

"Bryan Barbosa never got back up," Abrams said.

Barbosa's death struck the South River community hard. A native of Brazil, Barbosa learned to speak English while attending second grade in South River and was known as a good teen, student and athlete who could often be seen riding his bicycle around the small town. A memorial was created for Barbosa near the crash site and hundreds walked from that area to Denny Stadium for a candlelight vigil in his memory.

The mother of one of Barbosa's best friends said his death has left her son devastated because all he wants is his friend back. Another mother said her son's life was flipped upside down by Barbosa's death and his face is always filled with sadness and anger. A young woman said she was at the hospital when the doctor told them Barbosa died. She asked Arena why he didn’t get out of his van to check on her friend.

South River Mayor Peter Guindi, speaking on behalf of the community, said this past year should have been filled with new beginnings for Barbosa, such as starting high school and playing sports and making new memories with friends, but instead his friends and family can only hold onto memories.

He said Barbosa had a smile that would light up a room and he hopes his family and friends will take comfort in knowing his life had an impact on the whole community.

To Barbosa's parents, Pitchford said their son would want them to continue to live and to smile.

"He left you all these wonderful young people who love you, who loved him, who continue to be a source of support for you. So while you may feel your days are bleak, they are not because you will still have many memories through these young people who are now your surrogate children," the judge said. "And young people you have to live, you have to flourish, you have to grow. Do all the things that he is never going to get to do. He will do them through you. Be great, be strong, be the people that he would have been."

And to Arena's father and brother who attended the sentencing, the judge encouraged them to help him be a better person.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: South River NJ man sentenced to 15 years for 'deplorable' hit-and-run