Off-Duty NJ Cop Indicted in Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash

PATERSON — A  city police officer was indicted in a fatal hit-and-run accident that resulted in the death of a 23-year-old city man in June 2015.

Jose Urena Jr., 30, of North Haledon, was indicted by a Passaic County grand jury on Tuesday on charges of leaving the scene of a fatal accident and endangering an injured victim, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said Thursday.

The charges stem from a June 16 crash.

At about 8:25 p.m., Paterson police responded to a 911 call regarding a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle in the area of North 4th and Temple streets. When they arrived at the location, first responders transported the victim, 23-year-old Jaquill Fields, to St. Joseph's Hospital where he later died of the injuries he suffered in the collision.

During the course of an investigation, authorities said, it was discovered that Urena, who was off-duty at the time of the incident, was the driver of the vehicle involved.

The prosecutor said leaving the scene of a fatal crash is a second-degree crime which carries a possible sentence of five to 10 years in prison. The third-degree crime of endangering an injured victim carries a sentence of three to five years in prison.