A Kearny couple is charged with badly injuring a moped rider in a February hit-and-run where two kids were passengers in their vehicle at the time, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Sergio Morocho, 35, and Sandra Morocho, 33, both of Kearny, are each charged with endangering the welfare of a child, Suarez said in a statement.
Additionally, Sergio Morocho is charged with knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle collision and unlawful taking of means of conveyance, while Sandra Morocho is also charged with hindering.
They were arrested at locations in Lyndhurst and Irvington, respectively, yesterday and released pending their first court appearance.
Shortly after 10:15 p.m. on February 11th, 2024, the Kearny Police Department was notified that a moped operator was struck by a cargo van in the area of Harrison Avenue and Bergen Avenue.
Responding officers located the individual, later identified as a 67-year-old North Arlington man, with life-threatening injuries. The striking vehicle did not remain at the scene, but was recovered not far from the collision scene.
During the course of the investigation, Sandra Morocho falsely reported she was operating the vehicle when Sergio Morocho had been driving at the time of the collision.
To that end, Sergio Morocho did not own the cargo van and was not authorized to be using the vehicle at the time of the crash.
The investigation further revealed two children were unrestrained in the back of the cargo van when the collision occurred, authoritie said.
