Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces that Matthew Cancel, 27 years old, from Passaic, New Jersey, has been sentenced for his involvement in an October 25, 2020 motor vehicle collision in the City of Passaic.
According to police, Mr. Cancel was arrested on April 6 after an investigation conducted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office and the Passaic Police Department.
He subsequently pled guilty on April 16, to one count of third-degree Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury to Another.
According to officials, at the time of his plea, Mr. Cancel admitted under oath that on October 25, 2020, he struck a pedestrian while driving a motor vehicle near the intersection of Market Street and Hudson Street in the City of Passaic.
Officials said that he also admitted that, after striking the pedestrian, he did not stop to render aid as required by law, and that the pedestrian, a 64-year-old man from Passaic, suffered serious bodily injury. As part of his plea agreement, Mr. Cancel was released on pre-trial monitoring after the entry of his guilty plea.
According to officials, on June 4, Mr. Cancel was sentenced to two and a half years of probation. Mr. Cancel also lost his driving privileges for a period of one year, and prior to restoration of the same, he must complete a safe driver improvement class.