Hit-And-Run Crash Kills Passaic Co. Man Days Before 23rd Birthday, Family Says

PATERSON, NJ — A 22-year-old pedestrian from Paterson died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Nutley on Wednesday night, officials said. Another pedestrian was injured.

Nutley police said the crash happened around 7 p.m., near the Garden State Parkway overpass on Milton Avenue.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office said one of the pedestrians, later identified as Wiston Perlaza of Paterson, was taken to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Medical staff pronounced him dead at 7:12 p.m., officials said.

In a GoFundMe organized for his family, loved ones remembered Perlaza, also known as "Bebe," as a young man who was "always happy" and was "full of life, love and endless possibilities." He died five days before his 23rd birthday, the fundraiser stated.

Perlaza "will always be remembered with the beautiful smile and big heart he had for his family, friends and all things and persons he loved," the fundraiser stated.

"With his unexpected accident comes the unexpected responsibility of laying Bebe to rest."

As of Thursday at 1:45 p.m., the GoFundMe for Perlaza's family has raised over $6,000.

A second pedestrian was hospitalized after the crash with serious-but-non-fatal injuries, prosecutors said.

Authorities said anyone with information can contact the Nutley Police Department at 973-284-4940. People can also contact the Essex County Prosecutor's Office tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

Patch's Eric Kiefer contributed to this report.