Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 24-year-old JUAN P. ALBAN NARANJO of Elmwood Park, NJ on charges of assault by auto and causing injury while driving unlicensed. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Elmwood Park Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Foligno.
On Monday, July 8, 2024, the Elmwood Park Police Department responded to a serious two-car motor vehicle accident on Market Street and notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, which also responded to the scene. An investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Elmwood Park Police Department revealed that a 2008 Acura sedan, operated by JUAN ALBAN NARANJO, was traveling west on Market Street when it crossed into the opposite lane of travel and collided head-on with a 2007 Ford SUV. As a result of the collision, a passenger in the 2007 Ford suffered serious injuries. ALBAN NARANJO was also discovered to be operating his vehicle without a valid driver’s license.
As a result of the investigation, JUAN ALBAN NARANJO was charged with fourth-degree assault by auto, N.J.S.A 2C:12-1c(1); and fourth-degree causing injury while driving unlicensed, N.J.S.A. 2C:40-22b; and issued summonses for related motor vehicle offenses. ALBAN NARANJO is scheduled for a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ on Friday, July 19, 2024.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance in this investigation, along with the Rutherford and Englewood Police Departments, which both participate in the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit Task Force.
