Wayne Man Charged In Hit-&-Run That Killed Mercer Resident

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Police have arrested a man who was involved in a fatal hit-and-run in Parsippany that killed a Mercer resident late last month, authorities said Thursday.

Davut Batca, 31, of Wayne, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in the death of a pedestrian identified as Jelson Cabrera, 35, of Trenton.

Batca was nabbed in New York after he returned from Turkey, authorities said.

The crash happened around 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 19 near the Buffalo Wild Wings in Parsippany on Route 46.

Cabrera was taken to Morristown Medical Center, where he died from his injuries, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said.

According to police, Batca, driving his parents' 2021 Toyota RAV4, struck Cabrera while he was crossing the street. By the time authorities arrived, Batca had fled, leaving Cabrera injured on the road.

Investigators revealed that Batca fled the United States and arrived in Turkey in the days following the crash.

On returning to the U.S., he was taken into custody in New York and is now being held at the Morris County Correctional Facility, awaiting further court proceedings.