‘Turn yourself in:’ Police ID suspected driver in fatal hit-and run

Officials in Hudson County are asking for the public’s help after they said they know who's behind a fatal hit-and-run in North Bergen, but they haven't been able to find her just yet.

News 12 Staff

Mar 5, 2019, 4:20 PM

Updated 1,890 days ago

Share:

‘Turn yourself in:’ Police ID suspected driver in fatal hit-and run
Officials in Hudson County are asking for the public’s help after they said they know who's behind a fatal hit-and-run in North Bergen, but they haven't been able to find her just yet.
The accident happened Presidents Day around 8:15 p.m. at 43rd Street and Tonnelle Avenue.
The victim, Darlene Westbrook, 34, was a mother of two young children.
Her partner says he cannot believe the driver never had the decency to stop, let alone never helped.
Police believe Monica Ippolito was behind the wheel of the Chrysler Voyager on the night she struck Darlene Westbrook.
Police believe she never stopped, and just kept on going.
So far, police have not been able to find Ippolito, but have issued an arrest warrant for her.
"The driver of that vehicle is Monica Ippolito,” says Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez. “She's 49 years old. She's from Paterson. There's now an arrest warrant and the arrest warrant was signed yesterday."
"She's been known to frequent as far south as Perth Amboy into Passaic County, Paterson, Fairview, she's got connections all over the northern state of New Jersey and also elsewhere as well,” says Detective Joseph Pisone with the Hudson County RFCU.
"It's quite impossible for her not to know that there was some type of collision,” says Chief Robert Dowd. “At this point, we ask Ms. Ippolito if she's watching to do the right thing and turn herself in."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit at 201-915-1345.


More from News 12
Authorities: No indication of plane crash in Barnegat despite receiving distress signal

Authorities: No indication of plane crash in Barnegat despite receiving distress signal

2:22
STORM WATCH: Early morning storms expected to impact Wednesday commute

STORM WATCH: Early morning storms expected to impact Wednesday commute

2:11
Tractor-trailer carrying logs overturns near Little Falls day care playground; no injuries reported

Tractor-trailer carrying logs overturns near Little Falls day care playground; no injuries reported

0:39
Panera to discontinue Charged Lemonade following multiple death lawsuits

Panera to discontinue Charged Lemonade following multiple death lawsuits

0:39
State Republicans call for legislative hearings into how Rutgers handled pro-Palestinian protest

State Republicans call for legislative hearings into how Rutgers handled pro-Palestinian protest

1:39
Officials: 1 person injured in fire that destroyed Watchung home

Officials: 1 person injured in fire that destroyed Watchung home

0:26
Quintuplets graduate from Montclair State University

Quintuplets graduate from Montclair State University

Police arrest man accused in 15 burglaries in Lakewood and Toms River

Police arrest man accused in 15 burglaries in Lakewood and Toms River

2:06
Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum reopens to visitors following renovations

Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum reopens to visitors following renovations

0:24
Explore the Bubble Planet this summer at American Dream

Explore the Bubble Planet this summer at American Dream

2:03
Deadline to get a Real ID is in one year. Here's what you need to know

Deadline to get a Real ID is in one year. Here's what you need to know

2:23
Paterson public safety director derides layoff of sheriff officers, closure of Passaic County Jail

Paterson public safety director derides layoff of sheriff officers, closure of Passaic County Jail

0:28
TSA officers arrest Florida man for having loaded gun packed in carry-on bag at Newark airport

TSA officers arrest Florida man for having loaded gun packed in carry-on bag at Newark airport

0:35
Police: Elmwood Park man drove drunk, struck 8 vehicles; 3 injured

Police: Elmwood Park man drove drunk, struck 8 vehicles; 3 injured

0:25
Paterson man faces slew of charges in connection to armed kidnappings

Paterson man faces slew of charges in connection to armed kidnappings

2:03
Best of New Jersey: A taste of everything the Dunellen Hotel has to offer

Best of New Jersey: A taste of everything the Dunellen Hotel has to offer

0:29
Walmart reaches settlement in class action lawsuit

Walmart reaches settlement in class action lawsuit

0:33
Atlantic City man sentenced for drug induced deaths of tourists

Atlantic City man sentenced for drug induced deaths of tourists

0:26
Man killed in two-car Egg Harbor Township crash

Man killed in two-car Egg Harbor Township crash

0:48
Congressional action may help New Jersey seniors targeted by scams

Congressional action may help New Jersey seniors targeted by scams