Police identify suspect in hit-and-run

NORTH BERGEN — According to a press release, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office has alleged that Rogelio Chavix-Tacen was the driver of the 2010 red Nissan Rogue that struck Union City brothers Michael and Adrian Viruet on Kennedy Boulevard in North Bergen on Friday, Nov. 14. Both brothers remain in critical condition. Michael had to have his right leg amputated and Adrian suffered severe head trauma and was left impaled on an iron fence the night of the crash.
After an intense investigation, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office announced that Chavix-Tacen purchased plane tickets to his native Guatemala but never boarded the flight. The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, The United States Marshall’s Service, The North Bergen Police Major Case Squad, and the Hudson County Prosecutors Municipal Task Force have been tracking every lead and an intense manhunt has been underway 24/7 since the suspect was identified early Thursday morning. Charges for Aggravated Vehicular Assault and Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Critical Injury have been filed.
Rogelio Chavix-Tacen is about 38 years old, between 5’ 5” and 5’ 7” tall, with brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen in Fairview, N.J. and is believed to be traveling by car or public transportation. The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to keep a look out for Chavix-Tacen. Please call the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office at (201) 915-1300 or the North Bergen Police Department at (201) 392-2100 with any information regarding his location.
The family of the victims has established a fundraising page at http://www.gofundme.com/michaelandadrian to help pay for medical expenses. According to the site, 11-year-old brother Adrian is responsive and has been taken off the ventilator. His leg and wrist suffered fractures and he had surgery earlier this week for the arm injury from being impaled on the fence. His 20-year-old brother Michael is still in a medically induced coma to facilitate healing after his leg amputation.

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