Police took a second person into custody after a police pursuit struck and killed a deaf pedestrian in Jersey City.
Authorities said in a press release sent a short time ago that on Thursday, January 24th, in the late afternoon, the suspected driver involved in the fatal hit-and-run that occurred in Jersey City earlier this week was arrested by members of the Hudson County Regional Fatal Collision Unit.
Authorities said, the suspected driver, Mr. Oriental J. Hamlet, 19, of Jersey City, was charged with Aggravated Manslaughter, Death by Auto, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death, Driving While Unlicensed and Causing Death, Eluding, Receiving Stolen Property, Assault by Auto, and Resisting Arrest by Flight.
Police said on Tuesday at approximately 4:30 a.m., a pedestrian was struck near the intersection of Communipaw Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City.
Medical staff pronounced the victim Mr. Umar King, 33, of Jersey City, dead at the scene shortly before 5:00 a.m.
The initial investigation revealed that the striking vehicle, a 2005 Toyota 4-Runner, was reported stolen out of Jersey City on January 19, 2018. A marked Hudson County Sheriff’s Officer spotted the car speeding south on Kennedy Boulevard. The officer attempted to initiate a motor vehicle stop, but the car began racing away from the sheriff’s officer. Police said the car sped through multiple red lights.
According to police, the stolen car then sped through a red light at the intersection of Communipaw Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard where it struck a 2013 Lincoln MKZ. After hitting that vehicle, the stolen Toyota 4-Runner crashed into a bus-stop shelter, where King was standing.
After coming to a stop, the driver of the stolen car, as well as two other occupants of the car, fled on foot.
One of the occupants of the stolen car, a 16-year-old male, was stopped a short distance away and detained police said.
The detained juvenile was transported to JCMC for treatment of minor injuries before being transported to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office for questioning.
To date, no charges have been filed against the juvenile.
The driver of the Lincoln MKZ sustained minor injuries in the crash. Emergency Medical Services transported him to Jersey City Medical Center where he was treated and released.
Prosecutor Suarez credited the newly formed Hudson County Regional Fatal Collision Unit with the investigation and the arrest. She also credited Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office detectives, the Jersey City Police Department, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, the Secaucus Police Department and the Maywood K-9 Unit for their assistance in the investigation.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with additional information about the collision is asked to contact law enforcement 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.