UPDATE: Fort Lee Man Charged In Wheelchair Hit-And-Run

A Fort Lee man was charged with leaving the scene of an accident after he allegedly struck an elderly man in a wheelchair in Leonia Monday morning, police said.

The man was trying to cross Fort Lee Road at Leonia Avenue when he was struck by a motor vehicle driven by Thomas J. Malatesta, 53

At about 10:48 a.m., the man was trying to cross Fort Lee Road at Leonia Avenue when he was struck by a motor vehicle traveling east on Fort Lee Road, Chief Thomas P. Rowe said in a statement.

The man was thrown 20 feet into the air and suffered six broken ribs, a broken clavicle, and a possible broken hip, Rowe said.

The vehicle left the scene. The victim was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, police said.

Detectives were at 135 Fort Lee Road reviewing video footage from a nearby building and checking for additional footage when Malatesta pulled into where detectives were, Rowe said.

Malatesta was driving a maroon 2016 Buick Encore with a missing skid plate, which is what detectives said the car that hit the man was missing, Rowe stated.

Malatesta admitted to police that he struck the man and left the scene without rendering aid or calling 911, police said.

Malatesta was charged with knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident with serious bodily injury, endangering an injured victim, and three motor vehicle summons.

Malatesta was released on his own recognizance. He is due to appear in Bergen County Superior court Aug. 31.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: Thomas J. Malatesta — Leonia Police Department