Woman Charged In Fatal Hit-And-Run In Long Branch

LONG BRANCH, NJ — A 19-year-old woman from Long Branch has been arrested and charged in a May 1 hit-and-run that killed a man as he was trying to get into his vehicle, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said.

Jennifer Perez-Martinez, 19, was arrested Friday, Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said Saturday. She has been charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and second-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

Armindo A. Vieira, 57, of West Long Branch, died May 1 after he was hit as he was trying to get into his parked vehicle on Broadway about 8:45 p.m., authorities said.

Perez-Martinez was driving while impaired in a designated school zone when she hit Vieira, authorities said. She then left the scene in her vehicle, authorities said.

Vieira was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was pronounced dead at 9:38 p.m. on May 1, the prosecutor's office said.

The crash is being investigated by the Long Branch Police Department, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident Unit, and the Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team.

Perez-Martinez is being held at the Monmouth County jail in Freehold Township, according to jail records.