Teen Pedestrian Dies After Crash In Middletown

The 15-year-old Atlantic Highlands girl, who was hit by a car on Route 36, has died, Middletown police said.

Deputy Chief Stephen Dollinger declined to release the girl’s name. But the Two River Times, quoting family members, identified the teen as Marissa Procopio.

“You never think this is going to happen to someone in your family,’’ her grandfather, Paul Procopio told the newspaper during an interview at the family’s Little Silver dry cleaning business, Willow Cleaners.

In a news release, police said the driver of the light gray compact car left the scene of the crash at Route 36 and Avenue D before officers arrived Tuesday night.

But by Wednesday, police said they had identified the driver as a 49-year-old from the Leonardo section of Middletown.

As of Wednesday evening, no charges had been filed against that driver. Police said they want to conduct a complete investigation before determining if charges should be filed.

Cpl. Thomas Russo of the Middletown Township Police Traffic Bureau is handling the investigation.

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call them at 732-615-2140.