19-Year-Old NJ College Student Dies In Crash On Thanksgiving Eve

FAIR LAWN, NJ — When Aleksandr Popov's family heard sirens near their home in Fair Lawn Wednesday night, they checked their son's location and saw that he was on the highway, not moving.

According to a GoFundMe for the family, the 19-year-old Fair Lawn resident was already dead by the time his loved ones reached the crash scene.

Popov died in a single-car rollover crash on southbound Route 208 late Wednesday night, according to the fundraiser and officials.

The crash occurred around 10:18 p.m. near the intersection with Route 4, said the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office in a release late on Monday.

Now friends and family of the teen — who was a sophomore computer science student at Bergen Community College — have launched the fundraiser in order to help with burial and other expenses.

"Our family is heartbroken to announce the sudden passing of Alex Popov, my cherished son, a brother, and a friend," wrote Tatiana Matvienko on Facebook on Saturday. "His wisdom, kindness, sense of humor, and ambitious spirit touched many around him."

The fundraiser had amassed more than $12,000 by Monday evening.

Matvienko said a celebration of life will be held for her son on Tuesday in Fair Lawn.

Investigation Continues

Meanwhile, prosecutors said Monday that they don't expect any criminal charges in the crash, "but the Fair Lawn Police Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision with the assistance of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit."

Around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the Fair Lawn police had posted on social media that the southbound side of Route 208 was closed, and asked people to avoid the area.

"This single vehicle crash currently being investigated and we have no further comments at this time," they wrote. "Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers."

Information about services is here.