A 64-year-old Bloomfield man is facing multiple criminal charges after police say he struck a juvenile pedestrian at Bloomfield Avenue and Grove Street and then drove away, leaving the child injured in the roadway. David Lee, who lives in Bloomfield, was identified and arrested after detectives and the township's traffic division tracked down the vehicle involved in the crash.
According to Newport Dispatch, the crash unfolded on September 21 when the juvenile pedestrian crossed against the signal. Police say a vehicle in the left lane stopped for the child, but a second vehicle in the right lane struck the pedestrian, who suffered leg pain and facial lacerations. Bloomfield EMS transported the child to UMDNJ, and the young victim was listed in stable condition.
The driver fled the scene, per the police report, but investigators say Bloomfield detectives and the traffic division were able to identify both the vehicle and Lee as the driver. He now faces four separate charges: leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury, assault by auto, receiving stolen property involving a license plate, and driving while suspended or unlicensed causing serious bodily injury.
A History of Danger at This Corner
The intersection where the child was hit carries a grim history. In October 2023, 60-year-old Bloomfield resident Nelly Fernandez was struck and killed at approximately 7:25 p.m. at the same corner, according to Patch. That fatal crash prompted an outcry from residents, and family members publicly pushed municipal and Essex County officials to install traffic-calming measures, as reported by News 12 New Jersey. Neighbors at the time noted that heavy vehicular traffic along the corridor creates persistent crossing hazards.
A video showed a young person in the roadway, with a voice saying the driver drove off; it was posted to Instagram.
What Lee Could Face in Court
The leaving-the-scene charge alone carries steep consequences. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.1, knowingly leaving the scene of a crash that causes serious bodily injury is a third-degree crime in New Jersey, punishable by three to five years in state prison and fines up to $15,000, according to Justia Law. Unlike most third-degree offenses, this statute strips away the usual presumption against prison time for first-time offenders, meaning a judge could send Lee to state prison even without a prior record, per Villani & DeLuca.
The statute also bars that charge from merging with an assault by auto conviction, meaning a judge would have to impose separate, consecutive prison sentences on each count if Lee is convicted of both, Justia Law's breakdown of the law notes. To secure the assault by auto charge, prosecutors must prove Lee drove with legal recklessness — consciously disregarding a substantial risk — rather than mere carelessness, according to The Kugel Law Firm, which noted that driving through an active pedestrian area while suspended can itself be cited as evidence of recklessness.
The driving-while-suspended charge adds another layer of exposure. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:40-22(b), operating a vehicle while suspended or unlicensed and causing serious bodily injury is a fourth-degree crime, according to the Shugar Law Office.
Child Listed in Stable Condition
The child was taken to UMDNJ. Police have said the juvenile pedestrian remains in stable condition following the crash.
Open questions remain about the case, including whether Essex County prosecutors will seek pre-trial detention for Lee and how extensive the child's recovery will be. It's also unclear whether municipal or county traffic engineers will revisit safety improvements at Bloomfield Avenue and Grove Street given the corridor's history of severe pedestrian collisions.
