Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced that on October 25th, a Hudson County Grand Jury returned an Indictment against Michael J. Hansen, 38, of North Bergen, charging him with four counts related to the deaths of Russell Maffei and Marie Tauro in a North Bergen fatal collision that occurred on April 2, 2017.
The Indictment charged Hansen with two counts of Death by Auto, both crimes of the first degree and two counts of Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Death, both crimes of the second degree.
According to authorities, on April 2, at approximately 8:05 p.m., the North Bergen Police Department received a report of a pedestrian struck near the intersection of Paterson Plank Road and Kennedy Boulevard in North Bergen.
Upon arrival, North Bergen Police Officers found two victims, Maffei, 57, and Tauro, 80, both of Jersey City. EMS rushed Maffei and Tauro to Jersey City Medical Center where they were pronounced dead shortly before 10:40 p.m.
The vehicle suspected in the crash fled the scene and was subsequently located in North Bergen.
Police arrested Hansen, who was identified as the owner of the suspected vehicle, shortly before 4 a.m. at one of his family members residence.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.