Funeral set for Rocky Hill teen

Hartford (WTNH) - Funeral services have been set for a Rocky Hill teen who died in a bus crash over the weekend.

Grief counselors were on hand at Rocky Hill High School and the Greater Hartford Academy of Mathematics and Science (GHAMAS) as people remember 16-year-old Vikas Parikh.

"It's one thing to die in a random car accident, but to know that there were other students there, to know that he was the only one who died, to know that there was probably teachers and a bus driver there, to know there was everything and he died. I mean, it's depressing," said Alex Welcher, a sophomore at Rocky Hill High School.

Vikas was at the top of his class - but students say he was more than the smartest kid - he was one of the friendliest.

"He was a fantastic kid, absolutely amazing. We are going to miss him so much," said Sarah Pentland, a junior.

Parikh died Saturday when the bus he was in collided with a station wagon near Exit 46 on I-84 West, and fell approximately 20 feet down an embankment. The medical examiner says he died from blunt force trauma. The driver, 16-year old Christopher Toppi of Glastonbury, has not been charged, but the investigation is ongoing.

The crash has many wondering whether a seat belt could have saved his life. Democratic state Sen. Don DeFronzo, Co-Chair of General Assembly's Transportation Committee, said he may submitting legislation as early as today for seat belts on buses.

"There have been a number of studies by the national government that seat belts are really problematic, that they cause more injuries than they would prevent," Sen. DeFronzo said. "But we'll look at it more this year."

"We are wondering why there aren't seat belts on these school buses," Mayha Parikh, the teenager's sister, told News Channel 8. "If there are, why aren't students don't need to wear them."

GHAMAS is a magnet school where Vikas Parikh took advanced classes in the afternoon. In the mornings, he went to Rocky Hill High.

The school bus was heading to a robotics competition in Farmington when the crash occurred. Several others were injured.

Sen. DeFronzo said this is the first school bus related death since the 1970's.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 10 a.m., at Carmon Windsor Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 1933, Hartford, CT 06144 or by visiting www.hartfordhabitat.org.For online condolences please visit, www.carmonfuneralhome.com.