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HAVE YOU SEEN THE CAR? Authorities are hoping someone spots a silver hit-and-run vehicle that struck and killed a trucker on Route 3 west early Saturday.
The Exxon truck was in the center lane crossing the Berry’s Creek Bridge toward the Meadowlands when it was hit by a 1995 Honda Civic. As the other driver pulled to the shoulder, 57-year-old Jaime Quintana got out, called police and his company — then was killed instantly by what one witness said was a silver vehicle that kept going.
The woman pulled her car onto the shoulder. Quintana, meanwhile, went onto the shoulder to check on the driver.
He was then struck as he walked back to his truck, said Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli.
Quintana, who turned 57 earlier this month, was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:14 a.m., the prosecutor said.
The driver in the initial collision, 19-year-old Maritza Lopez of Belleville, didn’t sustain any injuries, nor did her passenger, Christopher Carloni, of Clifton, who had just celebrated his 24th birthday the night before., Molinelli told CLIFFVIEWPILOT.COM.|
A third driver, 27-year-old German Ferreras Matos of Clifton, then ran over Quintana with his silver Mazda MP3, the prosecutor said.
Lopez, 19, of Belleville, told investigators that she had “been up most of the night and fell asleep behind the wheel,” Molinelli said.
“Quintana stopped his truck in the center lane and then got out to check on Lopez and to call police and his boss,” the prosecutor told CLIFFVIEWPILOT.COM. “Quintana then walked back to his truck, where he was struck.”
He was also run over, “most probably after the initial strike,” the prosecutor said.
“There is silver paint and debris at scene that does not appear to match the damage to Ferrera’s vehicle” Molinelli told CLIFFVIEWPILOT.COM. “Ferrera stated that he swerved to avoid the truck and then ran over the victim who was already down.”
Molinelli asked that anyone with information about the incident call his investigators at (201) 646-2300. Tell them CLIFFVIEWPILOT.COM sent you.
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