Painter Who Fell Off Bergen County Roof Has Died

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — A painting contractor has died after falling from a roof in Ridgewood last week.

At approximately 1:45 p.m. last Tuesday, said Ridgewood police, first responders headed to 152 Kenilworth Road on a report of a man who fell from the roof.

He was taken to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center in Patterson with severe injuries, police said.

Heriberto Antonio Solís Fallas, 40, died on Wednesday, according to a GoFundMe set up for his family.

According to the fundraiser, he "suffered a fatal work accident days before his death... he leaves behind his mother, father, brothers, sisters, nephews, cousins and an entire family that loved him and wanted to see him return to his native Costa Rica.

"We are absolutely devastated by Heriberto's passing and are struggling to find the funds to cover the cost of being able to repatriate his body to Costa Rica. If you can, please consider donating, as any amount will really help. We need to raise $10,000."

More than $2,000 was raised by Sunday night.

Fallis' obituary says he lived in Irvington. Services will be held Wednesday and Thursday.

The fundraiser is here.

A witness said that he worked for a North Jersey-based company, and that representatives from OSHA, the Occupational Safety Hazard Agency, also came to the scene.

See more photos of the scene by Boyd A. Loving here.