Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of Ryan M. McMullen, 37, of Fair Lawn, on a charge of Assault By Auto. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Mahwah Police Department.
According to officials, at approximately 4:46 p.m. on September 4, the Mahwah Police Department received a report of a multi-vehicle collision in the northbound lanes of Route 17 in the area of Route 202.
Responding officers determined that three vehicles were involved, including a motorcycle operator who had suffered serious bodily injuries.
An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit and the Mahwah Police Department revealed that McMullen was operating a motor vehicle while using a cell phone when he struck the 35-year-old motorcyclist from behind and then struck a third vehicle.
The motorcyclist was ejected from the motorcycle. He was transported to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, where he is currently listed in stable condition. No other individuals involved were injured as a result of the collision.
As a result of the investigation, McMullen was charged with one count of Assault By Auto. He was also issued motor vehicle summonses for Reckless Driving and Using A Handheld Mobile Device While Operating A Moving Motor Vehicle.
McMullen was released pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack on Friday, September 18.