ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The family of an Allentown woman who was fatally injured when she and a man were hit by vehicle last weekend is asking for help to lay her to rest in her native Puerto Rico.
Luz Daneza Ruiz Acosta, 43, died early Sunday after she was hit in the 300 block of West Hamilton Street, authorities have said.
Christopher Stocker, 44, of Allentown, was also hit and killed, police said.
Acosta’s daughters, Luz Ramos Ruiz and Lurielis Sanchez Ruiz, launched a GoFundMe to cover her funeral costs and return their “beloved mother” to Puerto Rico.
“We want to fulfill her wish of resting at peace in Puerto Rico where she was born and where she grew up,” they wrote.
More than 140 people had contributed thousands toward the family’s $20,000 goal as of Friday evening.
Acosta had two daughters and a grandchild “on the way,” according to her obituary. She also is survived by her mother and brother.
“We want to fulfill her wish of resting at peace in Puerto Rico where she was born and where she grew up."Luz Daneza Ruiz Acosta's daughters
A viewing for Acosta is scheduled for 2 p.m. today, Dec. 16, at Nicos C. Elias Funeral Home, 1227 W. Hamilton St., with further services to be held in Puerto Rico, her obituary states.
Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio told LehighValleyNews.com his office has investigated eight deaths involving pedestrians and motor vehicles this year.
Four of those have been in Allentown, he said, including Sunday morning’s crash that killed two and an Oct. 19 hit-and-run on Union Boulevard that killed 85-year-old Elian Makdsi.
Five pedestrians were killed by vehicles in 2022, while two died in 2022 after being struck, Buglio said.
