Death by Auto Charges in Fort Lee NJ

An Elmwood Park man faces vehicular manslaughter charges in connection with a car accident in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

The suspect is a 41-year-old man from Elmwood Park in Bergen County, NJ. According to law enforcement officials, he was responsible for a car crash at the intersection of Lemoine Avenue and Bridge Plaza North in Fort Lee, NJ.

The suspect was reportedly driving his car in the area just before 10:00 a.m. when he struck another vehicle and then hit a pedestrian.

Afterwards, the suspect allegedly fled the scene by heading west on Bridge Plaza North. Police eventually identified the motorist and placed him under arrest.

The suspect initially faced third degree felony charges for leaving the scene of an accident with bodily injury. However, those charges have now been elevated to second degree leaving the scene of an accident of a fatal motor vehicle collision. That’s because the victim tragically died at the Hackensack University Medical Center the day after the accident.

The victim was 57 years old at the time of her death.

This is a big difference between a third degree felony crime and a second degree felony crime in New Jersey. On a second degree offense, a defendant is facing 5-10 years in prison. On a third degree crime, on the other hand, the defendant is facing 3-5 years in prison.

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For further information about this case, go to the NJ.com article, “Charges Upgraded in Hit-and-Run After Pedestrian Dies.”