The hit-and-run incident on Beech and Oak Streets on Monday evening left a 16-year-old teenager dead, said police director Jerry Speziale.
Javier Burgos was on his bike at about 6:53 p.m. when a vehicle struck him. The 16-year-old city resident was rushed to St. Joesph’s Regional Medical Center for treatment, where he succumbed to his injures, and was shortly pronounced dead.
Police did not release the name of the victim and referred the request to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.
Paterson police accident investigation squad led by lieutenant Sean McIvor and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit continue to investigate the incident, said the director.
Speziale said police have identified a suspect and the vehicle has been recovered. Police officers were looking for a four-door gray Volkswagen Jetta following the accident that was observed leaving the scene by witnesses towards via Cedar Street and towards Market Street.
However, an arrest has not been made at this time, said the director.
“I’m confident in the abilities of both the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Vehicular Homicide Unit and our Accident Investigation Unit in bringing closure to the family,” said the director. “My thoughts and prayers are with the family that lost a child.”
Updated: 7:19 p.m.