Post by Scumhunter on Aug 17, 2023 5:30:47 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: northjersey.com via Passaic County Prosecutor's Office)
From northjersey.com:
Police are asking for the public's help finding Juan Martinez Gonzales, who authorities say was the driver in a Hawthorne hit-and-run that left 83-year-old Joe Bender dead.
On June 28, a Ford-150 struck the borough resident in the area of Wagaraw Road and Passaic Street in Hawthorne. The town Police Department received information on the incident at 8:46 p.m., but the vehicle had fled the scene.
First responders rushed Bender to St. Joseph's University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The truck was later found abandoned in the city of Passaic, and detectives said they eventually determined the driver to be Gonzales.
If found, Gonzales will be charged with second-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in the death of another, third-degree causing death or injury while unlicensed, third-degree endangering an injured victim and fourth-degree driving while suspended.
Gonzales is wanted by the Hawthorne Police Department and the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office. Anyone with additional information about the case or Gonzales' location can contact the Prosecutor's Office at 877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or local law enforcement at 973-427-1800.
Bender was a lifelong Hawthorne resident, according to his obituary, and was a Marine Corps veteran. He also coached baseball and softball, was involved in community groups including the Rotary Club, the Knights of Columbus and the Hawthorne Elks, and was a former president of the Hawthorne Recreation Association.
www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/hawthorne/2023/07/11/hawthorne-nj-hit-and-run-driver-remains-at-large/70402807007/
Thoughts? As of today's posting date (August 17th, 2023), there is still a posting on Hawthorne P.D.'s Facebook page asking for information on Gonzalez's whereabouts that is yet to be edited or updated with any news of a capture. Only mentioning for accuracy, least important part of this tragic case, but some articles spell his last name Gonzales but the official P.D. page says Gonzalez so I went with that in thread title.
m.facebook.com/story.php/?id=100066900953431&story_fbid=605551298351563
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