Massachusetts Man Charged in Hit-and-Run Accident That Closed Down East Ridgewood Ave.

[Editor's note: This report was last updated at 6:53 a.m. Wednesday to include information that the police have charged a Massachusetts man with having allegedly fled the scene.]

The accused driver of the Jeep involved in a hit-and-run crash that severed a telephone pole, knocked out power and closed a portion of the heavily-trafficked East Ridgewood Avenue on Tuesday has been charged, according to Ridgewood Police. 

Bradley R. Burkhard, 21, of Andover, MA has been charged by Ridgewood Police having allegedly struck a utility pole in front of 535 East Ridgewood Avenue just past 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning and fleeing in a heavily-damaged Jeep.

According to police, Burkhard, was charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, and leaving a hazardous substance on the road way and improper safety glass. He was released pending a future date in Municipal Court.

Police issued a statement early Tuesday afternoon saying the heavily-damaged vehicle–which had airbags deploy, according to police–had been identified after the owner, a friend, found it parked at their residence and alerted authorities.

PSE&G workers were on scene early Tuesday morning, repairing downed wires and the utility pole, which had toppled over the wires as a result of the crash. A Hazmat crew cleaned oil that had spilled from the transformer and commuters faced heavy delays on Tuesday as workers made repairs throughout much of the day.

A PSE&G media representative said in a phone interview that power was out to at least one building but there may have been other residents nearby without power, as many as 500 on Tuesday.