FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Raymond Worrall
PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737
EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org
TWITTER: @HCPOProsecutor
WEB: hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org
DATE: Thursday, October 19, 2017
TWO TEENAGERS FATALLY STRUCK BY CAR IN JERSEY CITY
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez released the following information:
On Wednesday, October 18, 2017, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the Jersey City Police Department received a report of a person struck by a vehicle in the area of Terrace Avenue and Leonard Street in Jersey City. Upon arrival, the responding Police Officers found two male victims.
The first victim, later identified as Elionel Jimenez, age 15, of Jersey City, was found on the off-ramp of Route 1 & 9 in an unresponsive state. He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 2:40 p.m. The cause and manner of his death are pending an investigation by the Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.
The second victim, a 16-year-old boy from Jersey City, was found near the Route 1 & 9 northbound roadway below the scene of the accident. The victim was treated at the scene before being transported by Emergency Medical Services to Jersey City Medical Center where he continued to receive treatment for his injuries until this afternoon when he was pronounced dead at approximately 12:05 p.m. The cause and manner of his death are pending an investigation by the Medical Examiner.
During the preliminary investigation, it was discovered that the two victims were riding on a bicycle when they were struck by a gold Nissan Maxima with four occupants. The male driver of the vehicle and the three passengers abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot after it was driven a short distance from the crash scene. Two of the passengers returned to the scene and were transported by EMS to Christ Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries and released.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Rashaun Bell, the alleged driver of the vehicle. Bell, age 20, of Jersey City, has been charged with two counts of Knowingly Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.1, a second-degree crime.
The investigation continues and additional charges are expected.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide Unit of the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor 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).