The 44-year-old Elizabeth man driving a commuter bus driver when he struck and killed and 11-year-old boy, made his made his first court appearance today, Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Najma Rana announced.
he had previously been cited for failing to stop for a pedestrian, twice for using a handheld device while driving and three times for failing to appear at court hearings.
According to police, Raul O. Delatorre-Galarza, 44, Friday at approximately 8 a.m. struck George Gonzalez as he attempted to cross Kennedy Boulevard near Neptune Avenue.
Gonzalez was rushed to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
suspended license has been in 10 accidents and had nine license suspensions, an official said today.
According to the Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Najma Rana, Delatorre-Galarza has been previously cited for failing to stop for a pedestrian, twice for using a handheld device while driving and three times for failing to appear at court hearings.
According to a spokeswoman for the state's Motor Vehicle Commission, Delatorre-Galarza currently has four suspensions on his license issued on Aug. 24, Sept. 1, Sept. 13 and October 5, emanating from courts in Bayonne, Elizabeth and Jersey City. A total of nine suspensions going back to at least 2010.
However, Delatorre-Galarza' attorney claimed that his client was not aware his license was suspended until the day of the incident.
Delatorre-Galarza who was charged with causing a death while driving with a suspended license is a third degree crime with a possible sentence of three to five years in prison and a presumption of non-incarceration for a first time offender. His bail which was originally set at $50,000 cash or bond, was ultimately reduced to $30,000 cash or bond and he was ordered to surrender any travel documents.