FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Raymond Worrall

PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737

EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org

DATE: Wednesday, March 1, 2017

DRIVER INVOLVED WITH FATAL CRASH IN BAYONNE FACES CHARGES

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez released the following information:

Daniel E. Peek, age 44, of Union City, the driver of the garbage truck involved with a pedestrian fatality on February, 3, 2017 on Avenue C in Bayonne had no Commercial Driver’s License and has been charged with Causing a Death While Being an Unlicensed Driver in violation of N.J.S. 2C:40-22, a third degree crime. The victim of the crash was Caleb J. Serrano, age 32, of Bayonne.

Peek was also charged with violations of Title 39. The violations are Failing to Observe a Traffic Signal, Being A Driver With No Valid Commercial Driver’s License, Careless Driving and Reckless Driving.

The owner of the vehicle, Suburban Disposal Inc., a business located in Fairfield, New Jersey, has been issued a summons for allowing an unlicensed driver to operate one of their commercial vehicles.

On February 3, at approximately 4:50 a.m., the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Bayonne Police Department asking for assistance with a traffic fatality involving a pedestrian that was struck by a garbage truck. Peek remained on the scene of the crash with the garbage truck until Sheriff’s Officers arrived to conduct an investigation.

The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).