Police make arrest in hit and run

BAYONNE – Bayonne police arrested a Staten Island man on Tuesday, Aug. 4 relating to a hit-and-run accident that occurred in the city last month.
Andrew Saviolis, 31, of 72 Bellhaven Pl., S.I., N.Y., was taken into custody after police identified him as allegedly being the driver of a car that struck a man on July 11 at 3:14 a.m. at the ramp from Rt. 440 to the New Jersey Turnpike, according to Capt. Robert Geisler.
The accident occurred when the truck driver left his vehicle to retrieve something that had fallen off it. He was struck by a vehicle, which allegedly left the scene, Geisler said. The driver was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center, where he was in critical condition for several days.
After multiple canvasses of the area and the use of “advanced investigative techniques,” detectives were able to identify the license plate of the hit-and-run vehicle and connect it to another accident that happened on the Long Island Expressway the same day.
After Bayonne police began working with the New York Police Department, the Bayonne detectives were able to track the vehicle to a body shop in Staten Island, where they impounded it and brought it back to Bayonne.
“Through their investigation, they positively identified that he [allegedly] was the driver that struck our victim and [allegedly] fled the scene,” Geisler said.
Saviolis was charged with knowingly leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury and endangering an injured victim.
His bail was set at $50,000, with a 10-percent cash option. He was remanded to the Hudson County Jail.
Geisler lauded the work of Dets. Andrew Quinn and Dan Murphy, and Det. Sgt. Tim Wilgus.
“These guys worked tirelessly for the past three weeks, day and night, not leaving any stone unturned,” Geisler said. “It’s a credit to their hard work, teamwork and ability.”