Highland Park Man Hit, Killed New Brunswick Woman, Then Fled: PD

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — This Highland Park man and woman were charged this week with the fatal hit-and-run of a New Brunswick woman, said Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart.

Raulito Peralta, 22 and Estrella Caballero-Cruz, 21, both of Cedar Lane in Highland Park, were taken into police custody without incident earlier this week.

Police say they fatally hit the New Brunswick woman, who was walking at the time, in Franklin Township (Somerset County) at around 8:29 p.m. on Feb. 22. The woman was hit while she was walking on Somerset Street near High Street in Franklin.

Prosecutors say the man, Peralta, was the driver and he fled the scene after hitting her. Caballero-Cruz was the passenger.

The woman killed was identified as New Brunswick resident Treasa M. Daye-Fennie. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Peralta was charged with second-degree leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident, third-degree causing death or injury while driving suspended or unlicensed, and third-degree hindering.

He was taken to the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing. The woman, Caballero-Cruz, was charged with fourth-degree false police report. She was released pending her court appearance date.

Anyone with information relating to this fatal hit and run is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers' Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

Originally reported by Alexis Tarazzi/Patch

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