PARAMUS, N.J. — A second New York man has surrendered on felony drug distribution charges in the investigation of Monday's fatal hit-and-run on Route 17 South in Paramus, and the driver accused in the death now faces five additional narcotics counts, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced on Friday.
Source: Bergen TV (Bergen County Prosecutor's Office releases, Oct. 20 & 23)
Michael C. Marciano, 47, of Fairport, New York, surrendered to authorities on Friday and was charged with two counts of second-degree possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and one count of second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, according to the prosecutor's office. Investigators determined that Marciano owned the 2024 Acura SUV involved in the crash, had rented the U-Haul trailer it was towing, and was driving a separate vehicle in tandem with the Acura when the collision happened.
Source: Bergen TV (Bergen County Prosecutor's Office releases, Oct. 20 & 23)
Estuardo G. Rodriguez, 31, of Tarrytown, New York, was served at the Bergen County Jail on Friday with five additional charges: two counts of second-degree possession with intent to distribute, one count of second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and two counts of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance. The new counts followed the discovery of several hundred THC cartridges inside the SUV and the U-Haul trailer, prosecutors said.
Rodriguez was arrested on Monday evening after the crash that killed Krisiann Reyes Rivera, 31, of the Bronx. Prosecutors allege the Acura, towing the trailer, first collided with the Buick in which Rivera was a passenger; after she got out and approached the Acura, Rodriguez allegedly drove off, struck her and ran over her with the trailer's rear tires. Witnesses followed and boxed in his vehicle about half a mile away and alerted a Paramus police officer. Rivera was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Source: Englebrook Independent News (Bergen County Prosecutor's Office)
In the original case, investigators alleged Rodriguez was driving under the influence of alcohol and on a suspended licence. He was charged with second-degree death by auto, second-degree knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, third-degree endangering an injured victim, and third-degree driving while suspended in a collision resulting in death, along with motor vehicle offences including driving while intoxicated, and was remanded to the Bergen County Jail, the prosecutor's office said.
Source: Englebrook Independent News (Bergen County Prosecutor's Office)
The investigation is being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and the Paramus Police Department. All charges against both men are accusations, and both are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.