Suspected Driver In Deadly Jersey City Hit-And-Run Facing Multiple Charges
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A 19-year-old man faces multiple charges in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a man standing at a bus shelter in Jersey City, officials announced Friday.
Authorities charged the suspected driver, Oriental Hamlet, with aggravated manslaughter, death by auto, leaving the scene of an accident, driving while unlicensed, eluding, receiving stolen property, assault and resisting arrest.
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said Hamlet was arrested Thursday by the newly formed Hudson County Regional Fatal Collision Unit.
Hamlet entered a plea of not guilty through his attorney during a brief court appearance Friday. He's due back in court next Wednesday.
The crash happened early Tuesday morning at Kennedy Boulevard and Communipaw Avenue.
Suarez said it all began when a marked Hudson County Sheriff's officer spotted a 2005 Toyota 4-Runner that had been reported stolen back on Jan. 19 speeding south on Kennedy Boulevard.
When the officer tried to pull the SUV over, the driver took off, going through multiple red lights when it struck another car at the intersection of Kennedy Boulevard and Communipaw Avenue, Suarez said.
Surveillance video from the scene shows the SUV careening out of control before slamming into a bus shelter where 33-year-old Umar King was standing. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver and two other passengers inside the SUV then took off on foot, the prosecutor said. One of the passengers, a 16-year-old boy, was caught nearby and detained.
He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries before being brought to the prosecutor's office for questioning, but so far no charges against him have been filed.
The driver of the other car that was hit was also hurt and was treated at the hospital for minor injuries.
As for King, his friend says he may have been unaware of the impeding danger because King was hearing impaired.
"The car, too fast - 'boom!' Can't hear," the man said.
Police are still looking for the third suspect, who they believe is also a teenager and a resident of Jersey City, CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported.
Anyone with information is asked to call 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor's official website at www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip.
