No Jail Time For Caldwell Barber After Fatal Hit-And-Run: Report

CALDWELLS, NJ — A barber from the Caldwells who hit a woman with his car and drove away earlier this year won’t serve any jail time if he successfully completes a pre-trial intervention program, a report says.

Angelo Lotrecchiano, 83, of West Caldwell, pleaded guilty to a second-degree felony of leaving the scene of a crash and causing bodily injury. His license is permanently revoked, he must serve 100 hours of community service, and his is banned from having contact with the victim’s family, Montclair Local reported.

If Lotrecchiano violates the terms of his three-year PTI program, he will face five years in prison, authorities said.

The fatality took place around 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 16 on the 400-block of Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell.

Police officers arrived at the scene to find Sharon Thomas, 57, unconscious in the roadway. Thomas was transported to Mountainside Hospital in Montclair and pronounced dead at 7:22 p.m.

Witnesses told police that a vehicle hit Thomas after she exited a NJ Transit bus and was crossing Bloomfield Avenue. The driver allegedly stopped and got out of the car, looked at Thomas lying in the road, then got back in the vehicle and left the scene.

A second vehicle struck Thomas while she was still in the roadway. That driver pulled over and remained at the scene until police arrived, prosecutors said.

• Related: Fatal Hit-And-Run In Caldwell, Bus Rider Struck By 2 Cars: Police

A grand jury indicted Lotrecchiano – who owns a barbershop in Caldwell – in connection with the hit-and-run crash on March 6. He previously pleaded not guilty to charges of leaving the scene of an accident which resulted in death and endangering an injured victim, The Progress reported.

Lotrecchiano was not speeding and was not intoxicated at the time of the crash, which would have justified a more severe penalty, a judge said.

Family members remembered Thomas – mother to a teenage son – as a hard worker who loved to dance and laugh, and was active in her church, Montclair Local reported. Read the full article here.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com