Ariel Russo (AP)
Mourners at an Upper West Side church remembered a little girl mowed down 24 hours earlier, and demand just punishment for the gutless teen driver responsible for the senseless tragedy.
Four-year-old Ariel Russo’s friends, classmates, their parents and neighbors openly wept at Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, which is just steps away from yesterday’s deadly crash.
“Boys and girls, none of us really understand why this happens,” said Father Dan Kenna, who urged mourners to reach out to the little girl’s grief-stricken loved ones.
“Comfort Ariel’s mom and dad and brother, all of her friends and classmates, and those who care for her and love her.”
Once mourners wiped away their tears, their sadness turned to rage against Franklin Reyes, 17, who is suspected of running over Ariel yesterday. Ariel and her grandmother were walking to the pre-K girl’s Holy Name School when they were hit.
Reyes had been pulled over on West 89th Street and then took off as officers approached his SUV and led them on a chase up Amsterdam Avenue, police said.
The teen only had a learner’s permit and was not allowed to drive on his own.
“I’m sad and I’m outraged,” cried Rebecca Pendarvis, whose daughter, Brooklyn,is a third grader at PS 163 across the street. “There was a police chase through this neighborhood? It’s so congested and there are so many babies! It’s so senseless!”
Pendarvis said the out-of-control SUV could have easily hit her and her daughter.
“We walk up this sidewalk everyday. Yesterday we were running late,” she said. “This is overwhelmingly sad.”
Jamal Olavarria, 38, whose 12-year-old daughter goes to Holy Name, wants justice for little Ariel.
“People in the neighborhood think the owner of the car should be punished [in addition to the teen driver],” he said.
“There should be much stiffer penalties because you can’t tolerate this. You don’t think you’re going to bring your kid to school and that’s going to be the end of their life. It’s incomprehensible.”
Additional reporting by David K. Li