By: Richard L. Smith
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office has been notified of a pedestrian hit-and-run crash over the weekend that has now claimed the life of an East Orange woman today.
RLS Media first reported the pedestrian strike that sent two severely injured women to the hospital Saturday morning.
In a statement, Irvington Township Police said just before 2:05 a.m., emergency responders rushed to the intersection of Springfield and Clinton avenues after receiving reports of two injured individuals.
Police and EMS arrived and found Ms. Shauntice Paynes, 26, suffering a severe head injury and a second woman seriously injured on the ground at that location.
Irvington Police officials said a light-colored Mercedes Benz struck the women while they were crossing the road.
The driver sped from the scene and did not stop or pull over. Police believe the vehicle may have some front-end damage from the collision.
Paynes and the other woman were rushed to University Hospital in Newark, where Paynes was pronounced dead today (Wednesday).
According to family and friends, Paynes was a mother of two children and a 2014 graduate from the Dance Department at Arts High School in Newark.
The Irvington Police Detective Division is assisting in investigating the incident.
Any with information about this incident can call 973-399-6603 or The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office tip line (877) 847-7432