Arrest made in hit-and-run death of teacher Elizabeth Rosa in Dumont, N.J.
DUMONT, N.J. -- A teacher and mother was killed in a hit-and-run in Bergen County on Thursday.
However, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday the arrest of Ernest Hofmann, 94, of Bergenfield for knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident.
Hofmann, who also was hit with obstructing the administration of law charges and issued several motor vehicle summonses, was remanded to the county jail pending his first appearance in court.
A small memorial sits at the corner of Madison and Washington avenues in Dumont, the location where Elizabeth Rosa was struck and killed on Thursday at around 5:20 p.m.
Police said the driver took off.
"I just feel terrible. I wanted to come and pay my respects. I was devastated when I heard the news," Kelly Moreno said.
Moreno is a close friend of Rosa's daughter. She said Rosa could always be counted on to brighten your day.
"Her laugh, her smile and everything just made you instantly in a better mood, and I really, really miss her. And I just can't believe that this has happened," Moreno said.
Rosa had been a first grade, dual-language teacher at Grieco Elementary School in Englewood since 2005. Officials there said she had an unwavering dedication to teaching and touched the lives of countless children.
Several of her colleagues and friends stopped by Friday afternoon to leave flowers at the scene of the tragedy.
"Liz was a vibrant person, kind, and loved her family. If there's one thing we could always say is that she always had her family present. So she will be sorely missed," colleague Mercedes Gill said.
