Pedestrian Struck in Hit-and-Run on Palisade Avenue

Chief of Police Keith Bendul has reported that a pedestrian was struck outside of the Colony apartment building located on Palisade Ave., Saturday, Jan. 26 at approximately 11:30pm.

Julian Curatola, 23, of Fort Lee, was arrested and charged with hindering apprehension and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident that resulted in serious bodily injury.  

According to Bendul, Curatola backed into a 65-year old woman who was walking in the parking lot, brought her into the lobby of the Colony and told the doorman she had fallen and needed an ambulance. He then fled the scene.

When Fort Lee Police were contacted that the woman was going to be admitted to Englewood Hospital with a serious head injury, a joint investigation ensued with the Fort Lee Police Department’s General Investigation Bureau and Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Curatola, Bendul said.           

Bail was set by Judge John DeSheplo of the Fort Lee Municipal Court for Curatola at $5,000 with no 10 percent option. Curatola was transported to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of bail.

According to Capt. Thomas Ottina of the Fort Lee Detective Bureau, the Fort Lee Police have aggressive pedestrian safety programs, as well as driver awareness, in relation to struck pedestrian accidents.

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