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The crash occurred on Dec. 4, 2023, and the victim died of his injuries on Jan. 23, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Old Bridge Acting Police Chief, Donald F. Fritz, Jr.
The teenager's name has not been released.
On Dec. 4, 2023, at approximately 7:40 a.m., Old Bridge Police responded to the Wawa on Route 34 in Old Bridge for a report of a pedestrian struck.
Police found Andrew Padulano, 61, of Old Bridge, who sustained serious injuries and was transported to Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge and later transferred to Jersey Shore Regional Medical Center to receive treatment, they said.
An investigation led by Officer Henry Penley of the Old Bridge Police Department and Sergeant Jonathan Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that Padulano, a Wawa employee, was struck by a Ford F-150 driven by a juvenile following an altercation between the two, they said.
After striking Padulano, the juvenile fled the scene. As a result, the juvenile was identified and charged with first-degree attempted murder, third-degree leaving the scene of a crash resulting in serious bodily injury, and other offenses. The juvenile was arrested and subsequently released by the Court.
On Jan. 23, Padulano died as a result of injuries related to the crash.
Charges against the juvenile were upgraded to first-degree murder and second-degree leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death.
The juvenile was continued on home detention and will return to Court in February for a status conference.
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