By: Najla Alexander
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 28-year-old Hugo R. Paz-Lajuj of Fort Lee on charges stemming from a hit-and-run accident.
The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Palisades Park Police Department under the direction of Officer-in-Charge Captain James Rotundo, Bergen County officials stated.
Prosecutor Mark Musella stated that on Monday, October 14, at approximately 6:40 a.m., the Palisades Park Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting that a pedestrian had been struck by a motor vehicle on Brinkerhoff Avenue.
Upon arrival, Bergen County authorities said that officers had determined that the vehicle involved had left the scene of the collision.
The pedestrian, who was identified as a 17-year-old male from Fort Lee, was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries, Palisades Park Police said.
The Palisades Park Police Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, and a joint investigation was initiated, Bergen County officials stated.
According to Bergen County authorities, during the investigation, detectives determined that a 2004 Honda Civic struck the victim as he was attempting to cross Brinkerhoff Avenue near the intersection of 14th Street.
Bergen County officials said that following the collision with the pedestrian, the Honda driver fled the scene without advising police of his involvement in the collision.
After a month-long investigation, detectives identified Hugo R. Paz-Lajuj as the driver of the Honda and located the vehicle involved, which included the repairs that Paz-Lajuj made to conceal the damage from the hit-and-run accident, Palisades Park Police stated.
As a result of the investigation, on Wednesday, November 13, Hugo R. Paz-Lajuj was arrested and charged with third-degree knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, third-degree hindering apprehension, fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence, and fourth-degree obstructing justice, as well as related motor vehicle offenses, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.
Hugo R. Paz-Lajuj was transported to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.