North Brunswick Man Faces Charges After Fatal Pedestrian Hit-&-Run

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ - A 41-year-old North Brunswick resident has been charged following a fatal hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a New Brunswick woman.

Juan Martinez-Gaspar was taken into custody without incident after investigators determined he was driving the pickup truck that struck Elvia Gavarrete, 48, of New Brunswick, at the intersection of Lee Street and Suydam Street on Saturday night.

Around 10:41 p.m. on Saturday, New Brunswick Police responded to reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. On arrival they found Gavarrete with serious injuries. She was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said.

Following the crash, Martinez-Gaspar fled the scene in his pickup truck, according to authorities. The vehicle was later located with damage consistent with a pedestrian crash.

He was charged with second-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

Authorities are seeking additional information from the public. Anyone with information or surveillance footage of the area is asked to contact Officer Mark Smith at 732-745-5005 or Detective Zaiton at 732-745-4263.

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