The North Bergen Police Department received a report of a pedestrian struck near the intersection of Paterson Plank Road and Kennedy Boulevard in North Bergen on Sunday evening at around 8 p.m.
Upon arrival, North Bergen Police Officers found a male and a female victim.
The victims have been identified as Russell Maffei, age 57, and Marie Tauro, age 80, both of Jersey City. Maffei and Tauro were transported by Medical Services to Jersey City Medical Center where they were pronounced dead shortly before 10:40 p.m.
During the preliminary investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle involved with the crash had fled the scene.
The vehicle suspected in the crash was subsequently located in North Bergen.
The owner of the vehicle, Michael J. Hansen, age 38, of North Bergen was arrested by members of the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office and North Bergen Police Department shortly before 4 a.m. during the execution of a search warrant at a residence on 54th Street in North Bergen.
Hansen, who is a Hudson County Corrections Officer, was staying at that location with family members.
Hansen has been charged with two counts of Leaving the Scene of an Accident that Resulted in Death in violation of N.J.S. 2C:11-5.1, a second degree crime and Resisting Arrest in violation of N.J.S. 2C:29-2a.
The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation with assistance by the North Bergen Police Department.
Sheriff Frank Schillari said, “I would like to credit the cooperative effort of the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, the North Bergen Police Department and the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor for helping make a quick arrest of the suspect in this tragic crash.”
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).
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The investigation which is active and ongoing and anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Unit at 201-915-1300, ext. 7050. All information will be kept confidential.