A framed photo of 10-year-old Alvin Marcallo, wearing glasses, is propped up on the ground as part of a makeshift memorial near the corner of West Church Street and Veterans Plaza in Bergenfield.

Alvin died Monday after he was struck and killed at that intersection by an NJ Transit bus while riding his bicycle. Police said the bus hit him as he entered the crosswalk on West Church Street while the bus was making a left turn onto Veterans Plaza.

His photo was placed at the site by a man named Jose, who described himself as close to the boy's family, having known them for 20 years. He lives a few blocks away and was lighting candles on Wednesday.

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Jose said he is caretaker of the memorial, which includes not only Alvin's photo, but also three glass vases with flowers, candles, some white flowers next to the candles, and balloons.

"I am taking care of most of the things because the family is devastated," Jose said.

When asked to talk about Alvin, Jose said he was too upset just thinking about him to offer any words.

Jose said he wants authorities to see that what happened to Alvin doesn't happen to any other child.

"This is supposed to be a safe town, and the thing is to make sure that tragedy doesn't happen again," Jose said.

Justin Tyler Ogniben said he was coming home from a Memorial Day celebration at the firehouse on West Clinton Avenue when he saw Alvin's bike lying in the middle of the street, with Bergenfield cops and officers from the Bergen County Fatal Accident Investigation Unit at the scene.

It made him think about his own safety, as he rides a Mongoose bike to various places — including the memorial on Wednesday.

"I am about to put that bike up right now. I got scared," Ogniben said.

Karen Glover, who has lived in Bergenfield for 32 years, said she and her husband were driving from the borough's annual Memorial Day parade when they saw that West Church Street was blocked off, but thought it was because Gov. Phil Murphy had taken part in the celebration.

Glover said it was "heartbreaking" to hear afterward about the Maracallo family losing their child, as her son died a number of years ago. Alvin was a student at Hoover Elementary School, where counselors were being made available to "assist children with addressing their grief and anxiety," said Superintendent Christopher Tully.

Glover also felt bad for the bus driver.

"My heart is breaking for the woman who hit him, even, because from what I understand, it was totally just an accident," Glover said.

The driver of the Route 166 bus, Cynthia Watkins, 58, of Paterson, was taken from the scene to the hospital because of distress and then released, police said. She has not been charged or issued any summonses.

NJ Transit spokeswoman Lisa Torbic said Watkins is not driving a bus, pending the outcome of the investigation, and that Watkins has a clean driving record. Torbic also said there were no injuries to passengers on the bus at the time of the accident.

Bergenfield police Capt. Mustafa Rabboh said Wednesday that the investigation is ongoing.

Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com