Passaic County Authorities Seek Information on Hit-and-Run Crash

PATERSON, NJ – Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Hawthorne Police Chief James W. Knepper are seeking public assistance regarding a hit-and-run crash that occurred in Hawthorne, New Jersey, on Wednesday.

At approximately 8:46 pm, the Hawthorne Police Department received information about a hit-and-run involving a gray-colored 2004 Ford F-150 bearing New Jersey registration W73-MCN. The vehicle reportedly struck a pedestrian, 83-year-old Hawthorne resident Joe Bender, before fleeing the scene.

Bender was transported to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased. Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Hawthorne Police Department.