Latest news with #JetSetNightClub
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Vigil planned for North Jersey woman killed in Dominican Republic night club tragedy
PASSAIC — A vigil will be held Tuesday night to remember Jennifer C. Contreras, the 23-year-old city woman who died in the April 8 Jet Set Night Club tragedy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Contreras was among 225 others confirmed killed and more than 200 injured when the roof of the iconic nightclub collapsed last week. Sixteen of the deceased were Americans, according to reports. A graduate of Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, Contrreras traveled to the Caribbean nation to celebrate her birthday and the birthdays of family friends, said her brother, Anthony Contreras. "Jennifer was the most kind hearted, loving, and soft person," Anthony Contreras wrote on the GoFundMe page set up to raise money to help pay for funeral arrangements and to bring her remains back to Passaic. "She was an incredible daughter, sister, friend, cousin, and more." Family members said they learned of her death on Wednesday, a day after the collapse as rescue workers began to uncover victims of the rood collapse. It would have been her 24th birthday. Her brother said she was also in Santo Domingo to complete a certification class on eyebrow micropigmentation as she was starting a beauty business. "It was essentially the last thing she needed," Anthony said of the certification. Because her remains are in the Dominican Republic, the financial burden of the logistics, mortuary services in both countries, and funeral services in the United States has put a stress on her family, her brother said. The cost or bringing her remains home and burial, headstone and other costs are expected to be around $35,000. As of Monday the gofundme page had raised in excess of $37,000. More: Death toll climbs to nearly 200 in Dominican Republic roof collapse: Everything we know The family thanks the community for the help and kind thoughts and prayers, Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said. The vigil will be held at 52 Hammond Ave.., at 7 p.m. outside her family home. Passaic will restrict traffic around the vigil. "We ask that you pray and worship for my sister and our family at this time, " Anthony said on Monday. Jennifer is also survived by her mother, Dina Marcelo and sister, Luz. The memorial service and funeral details will be made once her remains are returned, the family said. Officials have said it's too soon to determine why the roof fell. Prosecutors visited the scene on Thursday after rescue crews began packing up and removing heavy equipment. The devastating accident occurred in the nation's capital of Santo Domingo during a performance by Rubby Pérez, 69, a merengue singer who was performing with his band when the roof collapsed. Pérez was among those who died. The exact cause of the disaster is currently under investigation. Last Thursday, the Dominican Republic announced the creation of an investigative commission. This article originally appeared on Dominican night club collapse: Vigil set for NJ woman killed
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Yahoo
NJ woman celebrating birthday killed in Dominican Republic roof collapse
Editor's note: The above video originally aired on April 11. PASSAIC COUNTY, N.J. (PIX11) – A 24-year-old woman from New Jersey is among the victims killed in the Jet Set Night Club roof collapse in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, according to Congressman Josh Gottheimer. In a social media post, Gottheimer confirmed the death of Jennifer Contreras from Passaic County, who was celebrating her upcoming birthday in the Dominican Republic as well as working to complete a certification class to start a beauty business. More Local News 'My heart goes out to her loved ones and I stand united in mourning with the Dominican community—both here and abroad,' Gottheimer said in the post. Contreras would have celebrated her birthday on April 9, according to her Facebook page, just one day after the roof collapsed at Jet Set Night Club. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Organizers of the Peruvian Parade in New Jersey, for whom Contreras served as Youth Queen in 2016, also shared news of her passing on Facebook. 'She filled us with pride and inspiration, and she will always be remembered for her warmth, her spirit, and the positive impact she left during her reign and beyond,' the Facebook post read. Contreras' family has started a GoFundMe to help pay for transporting her remains back to the United States, mortuary services in both countries, and funeral services. Contreras' sister described her 'as the most kind hearted, loving, and soft person' as well as 'an incredible daughter, sister, friend, cousin, and more.' Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
