By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Bergen County announced the arrest of 47-year-old Ralph W. Castellano III, of Lodi, on charges stemming from a fatal hit-and-run accident.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced that the arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Midland Park Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Powderly.
As previously reported, on Friday, October 11, at approximately 7:09 p.m., the Midland Park Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle on Godwin Avenue, according to Bergen County officials.
Upon arrival, officials say, officers determined that the vehicle involved fled the scene of the collision.
County officials stated that the struck pedestrian was subsequently identified as 70-year-old Paul Adams, whose last known address was in Wyckoff.
He was transported from the scene to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, where he was ultimately pronounced deceased, County authorities said.
Accordingly, the Midland Park Police Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, which responded to the scene and initiated a joint investigation, police say.
During the investigation, officials said, detectives determined that a 2010 Toyota Tundra struck the victim as he was attempting to cross Godwin Avenue at the intersection with Witte Drive.
Midland Park Police said that on Monday, October 21, 2024, investigators located the vehicle in question and identified Ralph W. Castellano III as the driver of the Toyota at the time of the collision.
According to Bergen County officials, as a result of the investigation, on Monday, October 21, Ralph W. Castellano III was arrested and charged with second-degree knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and third-degree endangering an injured victim, as well as related motor vehicle offenses.
Castellano was transported to Bergen County Jail pending his appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, officials stated.