N.J. Police ID Driver Who Allegedly Struck, Killed Off-Duty Cop From Long Island

BY ERIC KIEFER

New Jersey State Police have identified the driver who was allegedly involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident in New Jersey on Sunday that claimed the life of an off-duty cop from Long Island.

According to police, William Espinal-Mejia, 35, of Linden, N.J., was charged with leaving the scene of the fatal accident that killed 25-year-old NYPD officer Vincent Harrison, of Valley Stream. 

Espinal-Mejia turned himself in to troopers at the Newark State Police station on the New Jersey Turnpike Monday evening and was lodged in Union County Jail in default of $100,000 bail, authorities stated.

According to police, the fatal collision took place around 3 a.m. on Sunday in the southbound outer lanes of the Turnpike near mile marker 102.5 in Elizabeth.

Harrison was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

According to police, an ongoing investigation revealed that Harrison had been operating a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze when he changed lanes and collided with a 2003 Ford Escape. Harrison’s vehicle came to rest on the right shoulder of the highway, while the Ford was disabled in the right lanes.

Harrison then reportedly exited his vehicle and was struck and killed by an Infiniti EX35 being operated by Espinal-Mejia, who stopped briefly but then left the scene before troopers arrived, police stated.

Troopers received a report that Harrison “engaged in an exchange of words” with the driver of the Escape and then had his weapon drawn immediately prior to being struck by the Infiniti. This report remains under investigation, police stated.

The investigation resulted in Espinal-Mejia’s Infiniti being identified as a suspect vehicle. Troopers located him and his car at a residence in Linden, according to police.