Slain US truck driver had unique link to Bermuda
A father of five who was fatally shot in New Jersey often handled goods that were shipped between the United States and Bermuda.
Robert “Bobby” Rodgers drove a truck for Cara-Van, which manages Bermuda Container Line’s warehouse in Elizabeth, for 15 years.
The 51-year-old died after being shot in the chest near a traffic light stop in Clifton on December 20.
Patricia Sellino, from Cara-Van, said the company started a GoFundMe page last week to support Mr Rodgers’s family.
She explained: “There’s a million stories about Bobby … he was one of those guys who would do anything for you, so we are trying to do everything for him and his family at this time.”
Derek Jones posted the fundraising link to Facebook group Maj’s List and encouraged Bermudians to donate towards the initiative, which was created last week and has a $25,000 goal.
Mr Jones wrote: “It’s a relatively small group of people who work closely together to bring all the goods to Bermuda 365 days a year be it on the roads, warehouse or at sea.
“If you can help the family in this time of despair it would be greatly appreciated.”
As of 4pm yesterday, 73 people raised $19,765 for the campaign.
Ms Sellino added: “$25,000 was a number; how do you put a price on a life, put a price on Bobby?
“At this point, it’s just to help [his wife] survive the next couple of months and not worry about the things he should not have to worry about.
“She should just worry about taking take of herself and the kids.”
The Clifton Police Department and Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that 67-year-old Angel Pacheco has been charged with murdering Mr Rodgers.
Mr Pacheco, from Clifton, is also charged with possessing a weapon unlawfully and for an unlawful purpose.
Neptune Group Management, which manages BCL, did not provide comment about Mr Rodgers by press time.
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