A driver and his passenger have been charged in a fatal Union City hit-and-run that killed a cyclist back in November, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The driver, Miguel Perez, 28, of Union City, was arrested by members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Regional Collision Investigation Unit and the Union City Police Department today just after 12 noon.
Perez was charged with knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, causing death while driving with a suspended license, providing false reports to law enforcement, obstruction of the administration of law, and hindering apprehension.
Additionally, Perez faces charged related to several motor vehicle summonses, including leaving the scene of an accident, driving with an open container, crossing double yellow lines, and driving while suspended.
Nicholas Padin, 63, of Hoboken – who was a passenger in the car at the time of the crash –
turned himself in to detectives with the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit at approximately 11:30 a.m. this morning with his attorney.
Padin has been charged with knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death (accomplice liability) and hindering apprehension.
He was also charged with the same motor vehicle summonses as Perez, with the exception of allowing a suspended/unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle.
On November 16th, 2020, at approximately 7:45 p.m., members of the Union City Police
Department responded to the area of 48th Street near Bergenline Avenue on reports of a cyclist struck with serious injuries.
The victim, later identified as Marcelino Pilco, of Union City, was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased at 11:48 p.m.
According to the initial investigation, the victim was cycling northbound on Bergenline Avenue when he was struck and the driver fled the scene eastbound on 48th Street in a white Nissan Rogue sport utility vehicle.
The investigation was conducted by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Regional Collision Investigation Unit and the Union City Police Department.
