ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Family and friends are mourning an avid diver from Bloomfield who they say was recently killed in a hit-and-run crash at Eagle Rock Reservation in Essex County.
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According to a GoFundMe campaign set up in his name, Tim Hughes of Bloomfield, 51, was fatally hit by a car on the afternoon of Jan. 10 while walking his dog at the reservation, which is located along the Watchung Mountains ridge line between West Orange, Montclair and Verona.
Hughes – who grew up in Stoke-on-Trent in England and emigrated to the U.S. in 1998 – “battled through two surgeries” after the crash, but his injuries were too severe and doctors were unable to save him, the campaign states.
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He leaves behind his wife, Monika, and two children. See the campaign or make a donation here.
The GoFundMe campaign states:
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“Above all, Tim was utterly devoted to his family and he absolutely doted on his girls. He was the most active and engaged dad, bringing the family on all sorts of adventures; snowboarding, hiking, biking, running, swimming, and yes, beginning to teach the girls to SCUBA dive. Tim was, quite simply, inimitable. He had a boundless sense of humor, incredible patience, and deep empathy and love for others. While many people knew him as the life of the party, he was also the guy you wanted by your side when you needed an ear, and the buddy you wanted next to you underwater. Tim was the first one to buy you a beer, to give you a hug, to make you laugh. He was a loyal and devoted mate.”
Gotham Divers posted a message of mourning for co-founder and owner Hughes:
“Tim was the heart and soul of Gotham Divers and a beloved and integral part of the local diving community. He leaves behind a legacy of avid divers that now share his passion for exploring the wrecks of the northeast. There are not enough words to express the impact of his tragic death.”
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that an investigation was taking place, but didn’t release any further details.
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