WATCHUNG BOROUGH, N.J. (Somerset County) — A 32-year-old Piscataway man has been charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that killed a pedestrian early Saturday morning on Route 22 in Watchung Borough, authorities said.
Daniel Cole was charged with second-degree knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and third-degree hindering apprehension, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
Watchung police were notified at approximately 4:05 a.m. Aug. 22 of a pedestrian struck on Route 22 West near Mountain Avenue.
Responding officers found a pedestrian in the roadway with injuries consistent with being struck by a motor vehicle, authorities said. The driver allegedly fled the scene.
The pedestrian, identified only as a 56-year-old Brooklyn, New York, man, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Members of the Somerset County Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Watchung Police Department responded to investigate. Investigators from the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office also responded.
Authorities said further investigation led detectives to identify Cole as the driver of a Nissan Pathfinder allegedly involved in the crash.
Detectives obtained a Superior Court search warrant Aug. 22 for Cole, his residence and the vehicle. The Nissan Pathfinder was located at Cole’s residence with heavy front-end damage consistent with a collision, according to authorities.
Cole was taken into custody at his residence without incident later that day by members of the prosecutor’s office Major Crimes Unit and Watchung police.
He was transported to the Watchung Police Department, where he was processed on the charges before being lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a court hearing.
The investigation remains ongoing pending the results of an autopsy and findings from the Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-231-7100 or the Watchung Police Department at 908-756-3663. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the STOPit app using access code SOMERSETNJ or through the Somerset County Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477).
