Brooklyn Man Arrested In Hoboken Hit-And-Run That Killed Cousin Of Top NBA Draft Pick
HOBOKEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Brooklyn man was arrested Friday in connection with a hit-and-run crash in Hoboken, N.J. that killed the cousin of Ben Simmons, the No. 1 pick in this year's NBA draft, authorities said.
Zachary Simmons, 21, died after being struck by an SUV at Willow Avenue and Sixth Street on June 25.
Mark T. Nicholas, 50, was arrested in Manhattan at around 3:16 a.m. in connection with the fatal crash, authorities said.
"New York police stopped our suspect to summons him for possession of marijuana and once they placed his name in the system it showed he was a wanted individual," Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante told 1010 WINS.
Ben Simmons played one season for Louisiana State University before being selected by the Philadelphia 76ers. The victim's mother told CBS2 that her son had gone with Ben Simmons to the NBA draft the week he was killed.
After the fatal crash, Ben Simmons wrote in a Twitter post: "Hearing the news this morning is a reminder to never forget the important things in life.''
The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office is currently working on getting Nicholas to New Jersey to face charges.
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