Verona Man Victim In One Of 2 Fatal Hit-And-Run Accidents In New Jersey

A 59-year-old pedestrian was killed Friday in one of two fatal-hit-and-runs in New Jersey in 24 hours, police said.

Police were searching for suspects in the two fatal-hit-and-runs Saturday.

Authorities are investigating an incident in which a Verona resident was fatally injured by a hit-and-run vehicle Friday night.

At approximately 9:30 p.m., Verona police officers responded to the area of Bloomfield Ave and Hillcrest Terrace on reports of pedestrian struck. Arriving officers located the victim and he was rushed to University Hospital in Newark, according to police.

The victim, who has been identified as Matthew Beneduce McGrath, 59, was pronounced dead at 9:58 p.m., according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly, of the Prosecutor's Homicide Unit.

This matter is being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor's Major Crimes Task Force and the Verona Police Department. The investigation is active and ongoing at this time, according to Fennelly.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Essex County Prosecutor's Tips Line at (877) 847-7432 or the Verona Police Department at (973) 239-5000.

Police are also searching for the driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run in Hoboken, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.

The 21-year-old man was struck at the intersection at Willow Avenue and Sixth Street around 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office has released surveillance photos of the SUV (see photos).

The HCPO said the vehicle is either a black GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe or Cadillac Escalade with New York plates.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office at 201-795-6400.