Newark Man Indicted in Fatal February Hit-and-Run

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office today announced the indictment of a driver allegedly responsible for the hit-and-run death of a Seton Hall parent who was visiting his daughter in February.

Frank Bradley, Jr., 30, of Newark, was charged Friday in a 13-count indictment with first degree aggravated manslaughter, second degree vehicular homicide, second degree eluding police, second degree leaving the scene of an accident, second degree endangering the welfare of a child, third degree endangering an injured victim, third degree driving while suspended causing death, and fourth degree cruelty and neglect of a child. He's being held in the Essex County jail in lieu of $150,000 bail. First degree aggravated manslaughter carries a 10- to 30-year prison term.

According to Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Shelton McCall, Jr., South Orange police responded to a 911 call of a hit-and-run at South Orange and Vose avenues on Feb. 9 at about 8:15 p.m. Upon arrival, police found the victim, James Walsh, 49, of South Plainfield, lying in the street and suffering from massive injuries. He was taken to University Hospital and pronounced dead a short time later. Walsh had been visiting his daughter, who attends Seton Hall, and the two had gone downtown for dinner.

Witnesses spotted a black Honda Civic leaving the scene of the accident, and it was discovered that the same car had been pursued earlier in Orange for a motor vehicle offense. Approximately 45 minutes after the hit-and-run, South Orange police found the damaged 1995 black Honda Civic in front of the defendant’s Columbia Avenue home in Newark. He was taken in for questioning and later charged with the crime. Detectives also obtained information that Bradley allegedly had three children in the Civic during the incident.

Murray commended Det. Vincent Nardone of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Vehicular Homicide Unit and Det. Brian McGuire of the South Orange Police Department for the investigation.