The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating a fatal hit and run. A 47-year-old Maplewood man was struck and killed while changing a flat tire in the area of Routes 1 & 9 South, near the Pulaski Skyway in Newark at approximately 11:45 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 27.
The victim has been identified as Douglas Hodgson. He was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 12:18 a.m. today, Monday, Feb. 28. Mr. Hodgson was returning from a business affair in New York City when he pulled his Lexus to the shoulder of the road to repair a flat tire.
Detectives at the scene said the motor vehicle that struck Mr. Hodgson appears to have been a 1998 white Acura CL, two-door. The driver of that vehicle did not stop following the collision. Unless the car has been repaired, it should display damage to the passenger side mirror, front fender and a missing parking light from the front passenger bumper.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly, head of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit, ask anyone who witnessed the collision or any repair facility that fixed a car meeting that description, to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicle Homicide Unit at 1-877-847-7432 or Detective Nardone at 973-621-4594. All calls will be kept confidential.
The investigation is active and is being carried out by the Newark Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office. No other information is available at this time.
