HOBOKEN — Hoboken Police have made an arrest of a driver whom they say allegedly struck a pedestrian and fled the scene on Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 at 235 River St., right near the W Hotel entrance.
The victim was a 44 year-old male resident of Ramsey, NJ. The victim sustained injuries requiring medical treatment at the Jersey City Medical Center.
Witnesses at the scene provided police with a description of the driver as well as the vehicle that fled and a license plate number.
Police said this in a press release:
Police traced this information to a 2009 Nissan/Murano, color/gray to a person in North Brunswick, NJ. The subsequent police investigation was also aided by the utilization of video from surveillance cameras in the area that confirmed the witness’s statements to police. A BOLO was sent to the North Brunswick Police Department to attempt to locate the vehicle and driver who fled.
A short time later, North Brunswick PD did notify Hoboken Police that the vehicle was located, and had damage consistent with a recent accident. Detective Arturo Gonzalez then contacted the driver, who [allegedly] denied being in any accident or striking a pedestrian in Hoboken. A short time later the driver, identified as: Mario G. Barbato, Age 45 of North Brunswick, NJ appeared in the Detective Bureau and when confronted with the evidence, gave a full and voluntary video confession indicating he did strike the victim and fled the scene of the earlier accident.
Mr. Barbato was arrested and charged with: 1) Knowingly Leaving the Scene of an Accident 2) Assault by Auto and 3) Endangering/Leaving an Injured Victim in addition to a motor vehicle summons for Leaving the Scene of an Accident by P/O Adam Colon.Mr. Barbato is scheduled to make an initial appearance in court this week.
The HPD thanked the witnesses who helped out.