Lakewood, NJ – An arrest was made yesterday in connection to a hit-and-run crash that left a 25-year-old Lakewood Chaveirim volunteer seriously injured, according to police.
Moshe Guttman was helping a person change a tire more than a week ago when he was struck by a van. The van was later identified by debris at the scene as a 1993 Chevy Astro Van.
Moshe suffered a skull fracture and severe hip injury in the crash.
Last week, the local Policemen’s Benevolent Association and Chaveirim offered a $5,000 reward for help in finding the driver of the Astro van.
Lakewood Chaveirim released the following statement to Matzav.com following the announcement of the arrest:
” The Lakewood Police Department arrested the suspect driver who hit and critically injured one of our members Mr. Moshe Guttmann, and then fled the scene.
“A family member of the victim who did not give up searching for the vehicle spotted the possible match to the Chevy Astro van parked in the rear of an East 5th Street home. The family member questioned someone outside the residence regarding the damage to the vehicle, and was told it was involved in an accident last week. He immediately called police. Upon arrival the officers determined the damage to be consistent with the damage described by the Traffic & Safety Officers. After questioning the suspect for some time, the man was taken into Police Headquarters for further interviewing and was arrested a short time ago.
“Moshe has since then undergone numerous surgeries and was released from the hospital on Friday to rehab.
“The arrest of the suspect will obviously not heal the wounds inflicted on Moshe, but it is with much happiness that we receive this news.
“Lakewood Chaveirim extends its deepest thanks to: the Lakewood Police Dept., Ocean County prosecutors and the county sheriff’s department, Police Chief Robert Lawson, Mayor Isaac Akerman, Police Commissioner Meir Lichtenstein, Police Sgt. Frank Work, Officer David Silberstein, Officer Erik Menck of the Traffic and Safety Department, and the numerous police officers and detectives who stopped at nothing to resolve this case. We would also like to thank the officers and crossing guards who spent hours out in the cold and snow distributing about 1,500 fliers with information about the accident.
“We would also like to thank the local Policemen’s Benevolent Association, the Sergeant and Officers Association, and the LCSW for helping us offer a reward of $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver.
“A special thank you to the residents of Lakewood, and the surrounding towns that have reached out to the Lakewood Police Department with numerous tips of vehicles matching the description.”
{Dov Green-Matzav.com Newscenter}
