Orange Police Were Pursuing Suspect in Fatal Hit-and-Run

City of Orange police had been pursuing the man arrested in connection with Monday night's fatal hit-and-run accident in downtown South Orange but stopped following him at the border with South Orange, according to Essex County authorities.

Police in Orange noticed a black 1985 Honda Civic moving erratically on Scotland Road and began to follow the motorist. But they stopped their pursuit when the driver crossed into South Orange and left their jurisdiction, Essex County prosecutor Paula Dow said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon. They passed along information about the car to South Orange police, but just for them to be on the lookout, according to South Orange Police Chief Jim Chelel.

Moments later, authorities say, the car struck and killed 49-year-old James Walsh, of Carteret, who was crossing the street with his daughter, Erin, a first-year student at Seton Hall.

A South Orange police officer happened to be near the scene of the accident and took down the license plate number, which led to the discovery of the severely damaged car in front of the suspect's residence on Columbia Avenue in Newark around 9 p.m. Monday.

Authorities arrested 29-year-old Frank Bradley of Newark and charged him in connection with the accident.

Bradley faces multiple charges from the incident, including 1st-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree vehicular homicide and third-degree causing death while driving on a suspended or revoked license. He is being held at the Essex County Jail on $150,000 bail.

The accident occurred about 8:15 p.m. at the intersection of South Orange Avenue and Vose Avenue while Walsh and his daughter, who had just eaten dinner together, were crossing South Orange Avenue in the direction of the Bank of America. The impact occurred in the crosswalk, according to Chelel.

Walsh was pronounced dead at University Hospital a short time later.

The car was traveling west on South Orange Avenue, according to Chelel.

According to an eyewitness, Ria Halkias, a waitress at Chris's Texas Weiner Family Restaurant across the street from where the impact occurred, the car was traveling at a high speed in the wrong lane.

"The only thing that caught my attention is he pressed his horn," said Halkias, who was outside taking a cigarette break during the accident. Though the driver honked the horn while approaching the intersection, he made no attempt to slow down, she said.

Walsh was struck by the car's windshield, she said. The impact carried him farther down the street to the intersection with Sloan Street.

University President Monsignor Robert Sheeran sent a letter to the Seton Hall community Tuesday afternoon, offering condolences to Erin Walsh and her friends and family.

The case is being investigated by South Orange police and the Essex County Vehicular Homicide Squad.