Brothers, 11 And 20, Critically Injured In North Bergen Hit-And-Run
NORTH BERGEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Authorities in North Bergen, New Jersey were searching Saturday afternoon for a hit-and-run driver who struck two pedestrians – one of them an 11-year-old boy who ended up impaled on a fence.
The crash happened around 9:50 p.m. Friday on Kennedy Boulevard between 31st and 32nd streets in North Bergen, according to the Hudson County Sheriff's office.
A red Nissan Rogue with tinted windows jumped the curb, struck two pedestrians and sped off, police said.
Adrian Viruet, 11, was thrown and was impaled on an iron fence. His older brother Michael Viruet, 20, was also struck, police said.
According to police, the brothers, of Union City, were both reported in critical condition; Adrian was first taken to Jersey City Medical Center and was later transferred to the Hackensack Medical Center for Pediatric Surgery, police said.
Michael was being treated at Jersey City Medical Center, police said.
"He's in grave condition. He's had brain surgery and it's touch and go. The 20-year-old brother is in surgery now to try reattach his leg," Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari said.
The children's father is at the Jersey City Hospital bedside of Michael, who is a student at the North Hudson campus of Hudson County Community College, and has a part time job in a retail store, CBS2's Dave Carlin reported.
The brothers had just left the movie theater at Columbia Park where they had just seen "Dumb and Dumber To" with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, police said. Their sister, Mileen Viruet, 15, told police she narrowly avoided being hit by the car.
"It's really getting crazy now with the cars not paying attention," Mary, who pulled up to the scene just after it happened, told 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten.
The suspect vehicle has heavy damage to the passenger-side front end and is missing part of the front passenger fender and headlight, which were found at the scene, police said. The vehicle is also missing the passenger side mirror, police said.
The vehicle was last seen near 21st Street and Kennedy Boulevard in North Bergen, police said. The Hudson County Sheriff's Office Crash Investigation Unit has been analyzing numerous pieces of the car, and analyzing surveillance camera footage.
"We are asking the public's help in identifying the driver of the Nissan Rogue," Schillari said in a news release. "If anyone was in the area and witnessed the crash, or has any other information that can help, please contact the Hudson County Sheriff's Office at (201) 915-1300. All calls will be kept confidential."
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