By: Najla Alexader
Authorities in Bergen County announced the arrest of Oliver Garcia, 29, of Jersey City, for knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in serious bodily injury, hindering apprehension, and tampering with physical evidence.
The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit under the direction of Acting Chief Matthew Finck and the Fort Lee Police Department under the direction of Chief Matthew J. Hintze, officials stated.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said on Saturday, February 17, at approximately 6:58 p.m., the Fort Lee Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a hit-and-run crash involving two struck pedestrians that occurred on Lemoine Avenue in Fort Lee.
Officials say as a result of the crash, the pedestrians were transported to the Hackensack University Medical Center, where they were treated for serious injuries sustained during the collision.
An investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit and the Fort Lee Police Department revealed that a 2007 BMW 550i operated by Oliver Garcia was involved in a collision with another vehicle that subsequently led to that vehicle striking the victims as they waited at a bus stop, officials said.
According to officials, Garcia fled the area prior to police arrival while the second vehicle remained on the scene.
Authorities say as a result of the investigation, on February 22, Oliver Garcia was charged with two counts of third-degree knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, resulting in serious bodily injury, third-degree hindering apprehension, and fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence.
Garcia was also served with multiple motor vehicle summonses and was released on a summons pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, officials said.