Second Arrest In Deadly Hit-And-Run On Route 17: Prosecutor

PARAMUS, NJ — A second man has been charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run on Route 17 near the Garden State Plaza Mall on Oct. 19.

Michael C. Marciano, 47, of Fairport, N.Y., was charged with drug possession in relation to the crash last week, which took the life of Krisiann Reyes Rivera, 31 of the Bronx, said the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

Driver Esturdo Rodriguez, 31, already had been charged with drunk driving in connection with the crash.

As previously reported, just after 5 p.m. on Oct. 19, police responded to Route 17 South to find Rivera lying in the road with serious injuries.

Rivera was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center and pronounced dead.

Other drivers who saw the crash followed Rodriguez and blocked his vehicle further down the highway, prosecutors said.

Investigators determined that Rodriguez' Acura, which was towing a U-Haul trailer, crashed into a Buick driven by Rivera's boyfriend. She was a passenger in the Buick, prosecutors said.

Rivera got out of the car and struck one of the windows on the Acura, prosecutors said.

Rodriguez then accelerated and hit Rivera while driving away, knocking her to the ground and running her over with the rear tires of the trailer, prosecutors said.

Rodriguez drove through the property of the Westfield
Garden State Plaza mall, prosecutors said. Witnesses followed him and alerted police.

Rodriguez was under the influence of alcohol and was driving with a suspended license, prosecutors said. He was charged with death by auto, knowingly leaving the scene, endangering an injured victim, and other offenses.

He was taken to the Bergen County jail, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors later determined that Marciano owned the vehicle that Rodriguez was driving, and that Marciano was in a separate vehicle, driving in tandem with Marciano, when the hit-and-run occurred.

He was charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, and other drug charges.

In addition, new charges have been filed against Rodriguez, prosecutors said. After searching the Acura, they found Ecstasy, Percocet, and THC cartridges, they said. He was charged with possession with intent to distribute
a controlled dangerous substance, and related drug charges.

Marciano was taken to the Bergen County Jail to await his first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.