Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 24-year-old EMELIO S. LUTCHMANSINGH of Queens, NY on charges stemming from a serious motor vehicle crash. 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 Bergen County Sheriff’s Office under the direction of Sheriff Anthony Cureton.
On Sunday, September 15, 2024, at approximately 11:13 p.m., the Teaneck Police Department and Bergen County Sheriff’s Office responded to Route 4 West in the area of River Road in Teaneck for a serious motor vehicle accident. Officers arrived to find that a 2004 BMW M3, operated by EMELIO S. LUTCHMANSINGH, had been traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Route 4 and collided head-on with a 2020 Jeep Compass. LUTCHMANSINGH fled the scene of the collision on foot and was apprehended a short distance from the crash by Teaneck Police Officers and Bergen County Sheriff’s Officers. In total, responding officers located five occupants of the Jeep Compass, all of whom were transported to area hospitals for treatment of various injuries. LUTCHMANSINGH was also transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained in the collision.
Due to the potential severe injuries of the Jeep’s occupants and the nature of the collision itself, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit. Members of the Fatal Accident Investigation Unit responded to the scene and a joint investigation was initiated. The investigation revealed that the license plates displayed on the BMW were previously reported stolen, and suspected cocaine was located in the BMW. It was subsequently determined that two of the Jeep’s occupants suffered serious injuries and have been hospitalized.
As a result of the investigation, LUTCHMANSINGH was charged with third-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, N.J.S.A 2C:12-1.1; third-degree possession of CDS, N.J.S.A 2C:35-10a(1); third-degree motor vehicle alteration, N.J.S.A 2C: 17-6; fourth-degree resisting arrest, N.J.S.A 2C:29-2; fourth-degree receiving stolen property, N.J.S.A 2C: 20-7; two counts of fourth-degree assault by auto, N.J.S.A 2C:12-1c; and three counts of the disorderly persons offense of assault by auto, N.J.S.A 2C:12-1c; as well as related motor vehicle offenses. LUTCHMANSINGH remains hospitalized and in the custody of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office pending a first appearance.
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 and the Teaneck Police Department for their assistance in this investigation, along with the Paramus and Englewood Police Departments, which both participate in the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit Task Force.
