A New Jersey man was killed by a hit-and-run driver while cleaning snow off his car, according to authorities

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A New Jersey man was killed by a hit-and-run driver while cleaning snow off his car, according to authorities

In a heartbreaking incident, a 59-year-old New Jersey man was tragically killed when an out-of-control SUV struck him while he was clearing snow off his car. The driver fled the scene, leaving the man, a beloved father, to die on the street. The incident has raised concerns about speeding in the area and left a family grieving an irreplaceable loss.

Tragic Incident in Paterson, New Jersey

Abel Herrera, a father and family man, was outside his home on Alabama Avenue in Paterson around 8:30 a.m. on Monday. He was clearing snow from his car after a snowy night, preparing to head to an early doctor’s appointment with his wife, who was already sitting inside the vehicle.

Suddenly, an SUV lost control on the slick road, skidding before slamming into Herrera. The impact was so severe that he did not survive. Shockingly, the driver did not stop to help and fled the scene, leaving Herrera critically injured on the street. The entire incident was captured on the family’s surveillance camera.

A Family Shattered by Loss

Abel Herrera’s family is devastated. His daughter, Anabel Angon, was at the airport returning from vacation when she received the heartbreaking news of her father’s death.

“She was in the car, she saw everything,” Anabel said, referring to her mother, who witnessed the entire tragedy from the passenger seat. Through tears, she expressed her grief and frustration, urging the driver to take responsibility: “The driver should have stopped and helped him.”

The family’s pain is intensified by the fact that the driver showed no remorse, fleeing the scene instead of offering help.

Ongoing Issue of Speeding in the Area

According to Herrera’s family, speeding is a long-standing problem on Alabama Avenue. The victim’s son-in-law mentioned that just weeks earlier, a child was nearly hit by a speeding car in the same area.

Paterson City Councilman Luis Velez acknowledged the issue, explaining that Alabama Avenue often becomes a shortcut for drivers exiting Route 80. “It’s a quiet street. People come and speed because this road is an exit to Route 80, and people just use it as an escape out of the city,” Velez said. He plans to raise the matter during the next city council meeting, hoping to find solutions to improve road safety.

Investigation Underway

The Paterson Police Department and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating the hit-and-run. As of now, no additional information about the driver or the SUV has been released, and both agencies have not responded to media requests for comments.

Authorities are reviewing the surveillance footage captured by the family’s camera, hoping it will provide leads to identify the suspect.

A Plea for Justice

Herrera’s family is pleading with the driver to come forward. They hope the driver will feel the weight of their actions and turn themselves in.

“Just go to the police, say it was you. Just think if it was your dad. It’s not fair, it’s not fair for us,” said Anabel Angon, her voice filled with grief and desperation.

The family knows that nothing can bring Abel Herrera back, but they hope justice will be served, and that the driver will be held accountable for their actions.

The tragic death of Abel Herrera is a painful reminder of how reckless driving and speeding can destroy lives in an instant. As his family grieves this unimaginable loss, the community of Paterson must address the ongoing issues of road safety. Authorities continue to investigate, and the family’s heartfelt plea for justice remains unanswered—for now.

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Tom Vander Woude

Tom Vander Woude ('20) is from Grand Rapids, MI, and was a sports contributor to the Wake Forest Review. He covered various athletic events and provided analysis on sports-related topics at Wake Forest University.

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