UNION CITY, NJ – On Thursday, October 28, 2021, Miguel Perez, age 29, of Union City, pleaded guilty to charges related to his involvement in the November 16, 2020 death of 56-year-old cyclist, Marcelino Pico, who was struck and killed while bicycling on Bergenline Avenue in Union City.
Perez pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.1 and the associated motor vehicle summons in violation of Title 39:4-129. The State is recommending a sentence of seven years in New Jersey State Prison along with a consecutive two-year driver’s license suspension. The plea was accepted by the Honorable Judge Angelo Servidio, J.S.C.
On November 16, 2020, at approximately 7:45 p.m., members of the Union City Police Department responded to the area of 48th Street near Bergenline Avenue on reports of a cyclist struck with serious injuries. The victim, later identified as Marcelino Pilco, of Union City, was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased at 11:48 p.m.
According to the initial investigation, the victim was cycling northbound on Bergenline Avenue when he was struck and the driver fled the scene eastbound on 48th Street in a white Nissan Rogue sport utility vehicle.
Sentencing in the case is scheduled for January 5, 2022 before Judge Servidio.