A Toms River man has been arrested in a hit-and-run that left a teen dead and injured his father.
Jesus Lopez-Grande, 15, and his 37-year-old father, Jesus Lopez-Ramirez, were walking near the shoulder of Oak Street in Lakewood at about 9:20 p.m. Friday, when they were struck.
Alexander Politan, 31, is charged with causing the death of another while driving with a suspended license and knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer and Lakewood Township Police Chief Gregory Meyer said.
The teen was found lying face down in the driveway of a home, and pronounced dead at the scene. His father injured his elbow.
Debris left at the scene identified the wanted vehicle as a black 2014 Jeep Cherokee.
A Jeep matching that description was found Sunday, in the driveway of a home on New Hampshire Avenue in toms River. There was damage to the passenger side.
No one was inside the residence.
A search warrant was obtained, and further investigation found Politan was driving when the crash happened, authorities said.
Politan was arrested Tuesday, and is in the Ocean County Jail, pending a detention hearing.
“Although Mr. Politan is in custody, this remains an ongoing investigation,” Billhimer said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Lakewood police at 732-363-0200 or Detective Michael Proto of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027.
