Man Struck, Killed Teen On Scooter, Misled Police: Bergen County Prosecutor

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A Hasbrouck Heights man has been indicted in connection with a crash that killed a 15-year-old girl on an electric scooter in April, prosecutors said Monday.

Timothy C. Moots, 61, of Hasbrouck Heights has been charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution and obstructing the administration of law in connection with the death of Serenity Law of Ridgefield.

NJ.com identified him as the former volunteer fire chief in Hasbrouck Heights. He had served through 2022, they noted.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said that on Sunday, April 14, at approximately 7:37 p.m., the Ridgefield Police Department responded to a fatal crash involving a motorized scooter at the intersection of Shaler Boulevard and Edgewater Avenue in Ridgefield.

A Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck operated by Moots had collided with an electric scooter operated by Law, prosecutors said.

Law was a member of the class of 2027 at Ridgfield High School.

Serenity's father works for Clifton Public Schools on the maintenance team, and fellow Clifton schools community members set up a GoFundMe for the family to help with hospital bills and funeral expenses. Serenity was survived by mom Miriam Peguero and dad Cordero Law.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit was notified after the crash, and they investigated along with the police.

"The investigation revealed that Timothy C. Moots made misleading statements to law enforcement in an attempt to minimize his involvement and hinder and obstruct the investigation of the collision," the Prosecutor's Office said.

On Sept. 10, 2024, a Bergen County Grand Jury indictment was unsealed, prosecutors said, charging Moots with the two offenses.

"I knew she would have done great things had she had more time on this earth," her mom said Monday. "And all I can say is that she was loved by
everyone that knew her. She was on Ridgefield Memorial High School basketball team, and was looking forward to playing volleyball this year, and also was excited about completing drivers' ed. Overall we all miss her tremendously."