By: Richard L. Smith
In a recent update from the Attorney General’s Office, details emerged about a tragic incident in Waterford where a pedestrian was fatally struck by a police vehicle.
The incident occurred in the Atco section of Waterford on November 23, 2023.
The victim has been identified as 44-year-old Christofe “Christopher” Wita from Berlin. Sgt. Richard Sbarra of the Waterford Township Police Department, while on duty in a department vehicle, collided with Mr. Wita on the White Horse Pike (Route 30) in Atco.
Mr. Wita was declared dead at the scene at 2:19 a.m.
The circumstances of the fatal crash are currently under a rigorous investigation, with no additional details released at this juncture.
In compliance with a 2019 law (P.L. 2019, c. 1), the Attorney General’s Office is mandated to investigate any death occurring during an encounter with law enforcement or while the individual is in custody.
The law further stipulates that findings from such investigations must be presented to a grand jury to decide whether the evidence warrants an indictment against the involved officers.