Toms River North Teen Had Positive Outlook On Everything: Friends

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River High School North senior who died following a motorcycle crash is being remembered as a positive, happy person by friends raising money to help his family with the funeral costs.

Christian Atehortua, 18, died Thursday following the crash on Schenks Mill Road near Darren Street, police said, despite efforts to save his life by EMTs and police personnel. The preliminary investigation found Atehortua lost control of his motorcycle and was thrown from it; there were no other vehicles involved, police said.

As authorities continue to investigate the crash, Atehortua, who died just weeks before senior prom and graduation, was being remembered as a student who made his classmates laugh and lived life to its fullest.

"(Toms River) North will never be the same without the funniest, goofiest, wildest, and nicest kid you will ever meet," one student said in a post on Facebook.

"You've brought a smile to the face of everyone," another wrote on Facebook.

A GoFundme campaign set up by friends to help his family with funeral expenses described him as "loved by all of his friends and peers." It had raised nearly $12,000 of its $20,000 goal by late Saturday.

"(Christian) lived his life to the fullest. If you have ever talked to him you would know that he was always happy and had a positive outlook on everything," the campaign said.

"He touched so many lives, especially my son's," one woman who donated to the campaign wrote. "We love you Christian."

You can donate to the campaign here.

GoFundme is a Patch promotional partner.

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