GoFundMe Page Established for Norwalk Boy Killed in Driveway Accident

NORWALK, CT - Kayla Tinnen, the mother of five-year-old Peter Tinnen-Strmiska who was tragically killed Thursday in a driveway car accident, has established a GoFundMe page in his honor to help pay for funeral expenses.

"In the past four weeks I'm in the process of losing my home, I lost my job, and now the final blow has been that I lost my youngest child, Peter John Tinnen-Strmiska," she wrote on the page, entitled "Laying Peter to Rest in Peace. "I'm beside myself. We lost him in a freak accident this afternoon. He was hit by a car and an unknowing family member was behind the wheel.

"I'm reaching out to any and everyone asking for support. I don't have any savings to bury my beloved child, and we don't have a cent to get back on our feet. I appreciate ANY assistance you can provide. God bless you."

As of Saturday morning, 771 people had donated a total of $36,665 to assist Tinnen.

Included in the donations is a $500 gift from the Norwalk Firefighters Union, Local #830, whose members were the first on the scene Thursday evening in an effort to save the boy.

In a Saturday afternoon update, Kayla Tinnen explained that she had first set up the GoFundMe page a couple of months ago and modified it just recently after her son's tragic death.

"I want to stop and take a moment to thank everyone for your love, care, concern, and support. I'm heartbroken and everyone is helping me get it together.

I also want to take a moment to clarify something many people have been asking. People want to know why this Gofundme page has been up for two months. I created it then because I was looking from support from friends because my landlord is evicting me, I had gone out of remission from Crohn's Disease and medical bills were piling up, and I was in a desperate place. Instead of ending the old page and creating a new one, I simply edited the old page to reflect the new situation. There is nothing shady involved. I only wanted help paying for the funeral because I have no savings and it's grown to something else. I love you all and God bless."

Messages of condolence also have poured into the page.

"I am so sorry for your loss. I will always remember what a wonderful and sweet boy he was. I was so blessed to be one of his preschool teachers," wrote Jeremy Bennett. "I remember getting lots of hugs from him and having nice interactions with him. He was always so appreciative of what his teachers did for him. I know he will be missed by so many, but we can have peace when we think of how he is in Heaven as a very happy boy. I am praying for you and the family."

After preschool, Peter was a student at Silvermine Elementary School, and Principal Ivette Ellis told the Connecticut Post that his loss has been heartbreaking for students and staff.

The accident remains under investigation.

Click here to view the GoFundMe page for Peter Tinnen-Strmiska.

Photo: Peter Tinnen-Strmiska. Photo credit: Kayla Tinnen and GoFundMe