Man Crashed Van Into Moped Rider, Had 'Unrestrained' Kids In Vehicle: Hudson Prosecutor

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — A man and woman were both charged after they crashed a van into a moped operator in Kearny earlier this year, then allegedly lied about it, prosecutors said.

Sergio Morocho, 35, of Kearny was charged with knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle collision, unlawful taking means of conveyance, and endangering the welfare of a child, after the crash on Feb. 11, said the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.

Sandra Morocho, 33, of Kearny, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and hindering, prosecutors said.

They arrested at locations in Lyndhurst and Irvington, respectively, this past Monday, prosecutors said. They were released to await their first court appearance.

Prosecutors said that just after 10:15 p.m. on Feb. 11, the Kearny Police Department was notified that a cargo van had struck a man on a moped in the area of Harrison Avenue and Bergen Avenue.

The victim, a 67-year-old North Arlington man, had life-threatening injuries.

The van left the scene, but was recovered nearby, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said that during the course of the investigation, Sandra Morocho falsely said she had been operating the van, but Sergio Morocho had been driving at the time of the collision.

"Sergio Morocho did not own the cargo van and was not authorized to be using the vehicle at the time of the crash," prosecutors said. "The investigation further revealed two children were unrestrained in the back of the cargo van when the collision occurred."