By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Middlesex County announced that an Old Bridge man has been sentenced in connection with the fatal hit and run that occurred on December 4, 2023, at the Wawa convenience store located at 177 Route 34 in Old Bridge.
According to Old Bridge Police, on December 4, 2023, at approximately 7:41 a.m., authorities responded to the Wawa convenience store located at 177 Route 34 following the report of a hit and run.
Upon their arrival, County officials say, authorities located a pedestrian, Andrew Padulano, 60, of Old Bridge, an employee of the gas station where the crash occurred.
Padulano was struck by a Ford F-150 and sustained serious injuries, officials stated.
County authorities said he was hospitalized and remained in critical condition for over 50 days until he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
Officials say that an initial investigation which was led by Officer Henry Penley of the Old Bridge Township Police Department and Sergeant Jonathan Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office was conducted.
It was determined that a Ford F-150 operated by Bryce Lomas, 18, of the Parlin section of Old Bridge, struck and ran over Padulano who was in front of his vehicle following a dispute between the two individuals, according to County authorities.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said that Lomas then fled the scene and in the process of fleeing nearly struck another vehicle before turning out of the Wawa parking lot onto Dock Road.
Lomas was arrested and charged with multiple offenses including Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, officials said.
The charges were upgraded after Mr. Padulano passed away, County officials say. Lomas committed the offense while he was a juvenile.
County authorities said that on April 22, 2024, Lomas agreed to voluntarily transfer his case from Family Court to the Criminal Division of the Superior Court for prosecution as an adult.
According to Middlesex County officials, on that same date, Lomas pled guilty before the Honorable Thomas J Abode, J.S.C., to two charges: second-degree Vehicular Homicide and second-degree Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash Resulting in Death.
Old Bridge Police stated that on October 17, Lomas was sentenced by Judge Abode to an aggregate 10 years of incarceration.
As to the Vehicular Homicide charge, he was sentenced to five (5) years incarceration and he must serve 85% of that sentence before being eligible for parole, pursuant to the No Earl Release Act (NERA), authorities say.
Upon completing the first sentence, Judge Abode sentenced Lomas to a consecutive five (5) year term for the Leaving the Scene
charge, County officials stated. Those sentences must run consecutive to one another by operation of law.
Authorities say upon release from incarceration, Lomas will be on parole supervision for three (3) years.