FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Raymond Worrall
PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737
EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org
TWITTER: @HCPOProsecutor
WEB: hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org
DATE: Sunday, March 11, 2018
MAN KILLED IN KEARNY HIT-AND-RUN; DRIVER ARRESTED
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez released the following information:
On Saturday, March 10, 2018, at approximately 1:55 a.m., the Kearny Police Department received a report of a male pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle, and lying in a lifeless condition in the center of Old Lincoln Highway (Routes 1 & 9) in Kearny.
Responding officers found the victim, later identified as Naphtali Dykes, age 30, of East Orange, at that location. He was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 2:20 a.m.
Upon arrival, detectives from the Hudson County Regional Fatal Collision Unit identified a male driver who remained at the scene after noticing that he had inadvertently driven over the victim. This driver is not being charged at this time.
Upon inspection of the crash scene, detectives discovered that another suspected vehicle was involved. After further investigation, the other suspected vehicle was located along with the alleged driver of the vehicle who was identified as Niraj Patel, age 21, of Edison.
Patel has been charged with Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Death in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.1, a second-degree crime.
The preliminary investigation also revealed that Dykes had been released from the Hudson County Correctional Center located at 36 Hackensack Ave. in Kearny earlier that morning.
In addition to the Hudson County Regional Fatal Collision Unit, Prosecutor Suarez credited the Kearny Police Department for assisting with the investigation and the Edison Police Department for assisting with the arrest.
The collision continues to be investigated by members of the Hudson County Regional Fatal Collision Unit. Anyone with information about the collision is asked to the Unit at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor’s official website at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/ . All information will be kept confidential.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).