Perth Amboy Man Driving Under The Influence Hit, Killed Cyclist: Police

WESTFIELD, NJ — A Perth Amboy man who police say was driving under the influence hit and killed a 71-year-old man riding his bike Monday morning, said Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro.

Police say he hit the bicyclist on the 1000 block of W. North Avenue in Westfield at 9:54 a.m. Monday.

Anthony Ramirez Velazquez, 20, of Perth Amboy, was driving a 2016 Acura IDX east on W. North Avenue when "he apparently entered the opposite lane of travel and crashed into a 2022 Ford Transit van, which was traveling west. That crash caused the 2022 Ford Transit van onto its side and onto a 71-year-old Kenilworth man," who was riding his bike on the side of the road, said police.

The Kenilworth man sustained traumatic injuries and, despite intense police and EMS efforts to revive him, did not survive. Resuscitation efforts were started by a Union County Police officer, who was first on the scene. He was assisted by arriving Westfield Police officers and then Union County EMS, but was pronounced dead upon the arrival of paramedics from Atlantic Health System.

Velasquez was initially arrested at the scene by the Westfield Police Department for Driving Under the Influence. He was then later charged with the following crimes:

- Death by Auto, 2C:11-5b(1), a crime of the second degree.
- Assault by Auto, 2C:12-1c(2), a crime of the third degree.
- Assault by Auto, 2C 12-1c(1), a crime of the fourth degree

The driver of the Ford Transit van and its passengers did not sustain any injuries.