Driver Pleads Not Guilty In NJ Hit-And-Run That Killed NYPD Officer
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The driver charged in the hit-and-run death of a NYPD officer on the New Jersey Turnpike appeared in court Wednesday morning.
NYPD officer Vincent Harrison. 25, of Valley Stream, was killed after being hit by a car on the New Jersey Turnpike at around 3 a.m. on Feb. 28.
Harrison was driving in a southbound lane in Elizabeth when he collided with a 2003 Ford Escape, 1010 WINS reported. Harrison ended up on the shoulder of the highway and got out of his vehicle. According to investigators, Harrison may have had his weapon drawn and was exchanging words with the other driver, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported. He was then in the roadway near the Ford in the right and right center lanes when police said he was hit by an Infiniti that drove up on the scene.
Harrison was severely injured and was pronounced dead at the scene.
William Espinal-Mejia, the alleged driver of the Infiniti, surrendered Monday when police showed up at his Linden, N.J. home, according to prosecutors.
Espinal-Mejia, 35, pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning to a charge of second-degree leaving the scene of a fatal accident. He is being held on $100,000 bail.
"He didn't stay on the roadway, and he left," said prosecutor Robert Rosenthal. "He didn't pull over somewhere further down and make a phone call. He didn't get off the highway and make a phone call. He didn't drive to a police station and make a phone call."
Mejia's defense attorney said his client did make an effort to help Harrison, but didn't want to jeopardize his own family's safety, Burrell reported.
"After it happened, Mr. Espinal-Mejia, exited his vehicle to attempt aid," said defense attorney Victor Rotolo. "A tractor-trailer came down and started to jackknife. It was just a very, very dangerous situation. He had his wife and cousin in the car and he made the decision to leave."
Purple and black bunting remains hanging over the doorway of the 100th Precinct station house in Rockaway, Queens, not far from where Harrison grew up.
