A pedestrian fatally struck by a vehicle in Kearny on Saturday morning has been identified by authorities.
According to a statement released by The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, on Saturday, March 10th, at approximately 1:55 a.m., the Kearny Police Department received a report of a male pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle, and lying in a lifeless condition in the center of Old Lincoln Highway (Routes 1 & 9) in Kearny.
Authorities said responding officers found the victim, later identified as Naphtali Dykes, 30, of East Orange, at that location.
Medics pronounced Dykes dead at the scene at approximately 2:20 a.m. authorities said.
Upon arrival, detectives from the Hudson County Regional Fatal Collision Unit identified a male driver who remained at the scene after noticing that he had inadvertently driven over the victim.
Authorities say that driver is not being charged at this time.
Upon inspection of the crash scene, detectives discovered that another suspected vehicle was involved where a further investigation indicated the other suspected vehicle was located along with the alleged driver of the vehicle who police identified as Niraj Patel, 21, of Edison.
Police charged Patel with Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Death in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.1, a second-degree crime.
The preliminary investigation also revealed that Dykes was released from the Hudson County Correctional Center located at 36 Hackensack Ave. in Kearny earlier that morning authorities said.
In addition to the Hudson County Regional Fatal Collision Unit, Prosecutor Suarez credited the Kearny Police Department for assisting with the investigation and the Edison Police Department for assisting with the arrest.
The collision is under investigation by members of the Hudson County Regional Fatal Collision Unit.
Anyone with information about the collision is asked to the Unit at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor’s official website at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/ .
All information will be kept confidential.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).