West Caldwell Worker Hit Car in Company Van, Left Scene of Accident, Police Say

An employee of a West Caldwell plumbing and heating business, who allegedly struck a car in Verona Thursday while driving his employer’s van, was issued a ticket for leaving the scene of an accident and charged with driving with a suspended license and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ronald McManus, of North Haledon, was driving on Bloomfield Avenue around 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, when he allegedly hit a car at the intersection of Bloomfield and Fairview avenues and then left the scene, Verona Police officials said.

The driver of the struck vehicle was able to provide a description of the van McManus was allegedly driving. He told police the side of the van said “Valente Plumbing and Heating."

While police did not find the driver at his job, they did identify him as McManus, officials said. They also learned he had an outstanding warrant from the Paterson Municipal Court.

Police later spotted McManus driving a Valente van on Fairview Avenue in Verona. They stopped the van and placed McManus under arrest. At the time of the arrest, officers searched the vehicle and allegedly found six syringes, police said.

McManus began working with Valente Plumbing and Heating six months ago, company owner Joe Valente told Verona-Cedar Grove Patch on Monday.

“We are on the road 40 hours a week,” Valente said. “He's a nice guy and everybody makes mistakes.”

McManus' license was suspended for an issue regarding child support payments, Valente said.

“It was a minor little thing,” he said. “He took care of it Friday, got his license back and was back to work on Saturday.”

“It's over and done with, nobody got hurt,” he added. “I'm not gonna let him go,” he said, “It was an accident.”

McManus was processed at Verona police headquarters and released. He has court dates in both Verona and Paterson.