Judge denies prosecutors' bid to detain Paramus hit-and-run suspect; Rodriguez ordered to home detention
The Bergen County judge rejected prosecutors' request to keep Esturado Rodriguez jailed while awaiting trial in a deadly Paramus hit-and-run. Rodriguez will instead remain under home detention in Spring Valley, New York, as the case moves forward.
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A Bergen County judge has denied prosecutors' request to keep Estrado Rodriguez behind bars as he faces charges stemming from a deadly hit-and-run crash in Paramus on Oct. 19.
Instead, Rodriguez will be released to home detention at his mother's residence in Spring Valley, New York, where he will remain under electronic monitoring while awaiting trial. Rodriguez is accused of fatally striking 31-year-old Krisiann Reyes Rivera following a crash on Route 17 South near the Garden State Plaza.
According to Prosecutors, Rodriguez was driving an Acura SUV towing a U-Haul trailer when he collided with Reyes Rivera's vehicle.
After the crash, authorities say Reyes Rivera and others who were inside her vehicle got out and approached Rodriguez's SUV, hitting its windows.
Prosecutors allege Rodriguez then drove away, running over Reyes Rivera before fleeing the scene. Bystanders eventually helped stop the vehicle, authorities said.
During Thursday's detention hearing, prosecutors argued Rodriguez poses a significant flight risk, citing allegations that he attempted to leave the scene and was involved in multiple crashes.
"He's trying to get away and your honor needs to ask yourself, 'Why is he trying to get away?" a prosecutor told the court. "He doesn't have a driver's license; he shouldn't be driving."
The case has also expanded beyond the crash itself. Prosecutors have filed additional drug-related charges against Rodriguez. A second man, Michael Marciano, has been charged in a related drug investigation. Investigators say the Acura SUV involved in the fatal crash belongs to Marciano.
Rodriguez's defense attorney argued his client panicked after being confronted by people from the other vehicle and may not have realized Reyes Rivera had been struck.
"What runs her over and makes contact is the U-Haul six feet behind," the defense attorney said. "It's plausible that he did not know he had just struck someone."
Before concluding the hearing, Superior Court Judge Gary N. Wilcox warned Rodriguez that any violation of his home detention conditions could result in him being jailed pending trial.
"If you are not there, they will consider that a violation of your release," Wilcox told Rodriguez. "We will be back here and in all likelihood I will detain you."
Rodriguez is charged with death by auto, leaving the scene of a fatal crash, as well as several drug and motor vehicle-related offenses. The case remains ongoing in Bergen County.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2nd person arrested in connection with deadly hit-and-run in Paramus
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