Family and neighbors remember New Castle boy killed by truck

NEW CASTLE, Pa.— Neighbors and friends joined with the family of 7-year old Octavius Stone for a candlelight vigil on Tuesday night in an East Side neighborhood of New Castle .

They remembered the little boy who died on Sunday after he was struck by a pickup truck while playing in his front yard with a friend, 9-year old Emil “Ozzie” Velez. Velez is recovering at a Pittsburgh hospital from injuries he suffered in the accident. Stone’s grieving mother attended the vigil as did the Velez family.

Friends have set up a special fund for the Stone family. Donations can be made to the Octavius Stone Memorial Fund at any PNC Bank.

Meanwhile, 66-year old Vigil Coonfare will face a preliminary hearing on Dec. 5. on charges of vehicular homicide while driving drunk, as well as aggravated assault and other counts. New Castle police say he was under the influence of an unspecified antidepressant and a narcotic painkiller when he drove his pickup truck into the yard.