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Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said the girl was driving her 2008 Nissan Pathfinder “at what is believed to be a reckless, high rate of speed” when it slid sideways at a 45-degree curve on Hasbrouck Avenue at Chestnut Street and hit a curb at 8:40 p.m.
Law enforcement sources told CLIFFVIEW PILOT indications were that the vehicle was traveling at more than 55 miles an hour.
The SUV rolled several times, ejecting 18-year-old front-seat passenger Stephanie Morgan (above) through the sunroof, the prosecutor said.
Both the driver — whose identity is being withheld by CLIFFVIEW PILOT because she is a juvenile — and Morgan’s 15-year-old brother, who was sitting in back seat, climbed out of the SUV, Molinelli said.
Morgan, who authorities said wasn’t wearing a seat belt, was rushed with severe head injuries to the trauma unit at Hackensack University Medical Center, where the prosecutor said she was pronounced dead at 1:16 a.m.
The driver and Morgan’s brother were taken to HUMC for evaluation, said the prosecutor (also above).
“The investigation is ongoing and motor vehicle summonses, for violations including reckless driving, speeding, failure to maintain lane and failure to abide by probationary driver’s license requirements, will be issued,” Molinelli said.
Unlike adult criminal complaints, charges against juveniles are filed as delinquency offenses and are handled during hearings closed to the public.in the Family Division of Superior Court in Hackensack.
The exception is if prosecutors seek and receive a judge’s approval to waive a case to adult status.
There was no indication today whether the prosecutor would seek such a waiver.
Molinelli thanked Emerson police and Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino, whose Bureau of Criminal Identification collected evidence.
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