Prosecutor: NJ teen charged with murder in hit-and-run following altercation with Wawa employee

Charges against the teen were upgraded to first-degree murder and second-degree leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death.

Lanette Espy

Jan 31, 2024, 10:51 AM

Updated 314 days ago

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A 17-year-old teen from Old Bridge was charged with murder in an altercation with a Wawa employee last month, according to prosecutors.
Officials say the teen and Andrew Padulano, 61, got into an altercation on Dec. 4, 2023, outside of the Old Bridge convenience store on Route 34. That's when officials say the teen hit Padulano with his Ford truck.
After striking Padulano, prosecutors say the teen fled the scene. He was arrested and later released by the court.
Padulano, of Old Bridge, sustained serious injuries and was transported to Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge and later transferred to Jersey Shore Regional Medical Center to receive treatment. Officials say he died last week from his injuries related to the crash.
Charges against the juvenile were upgraded to first-degree murder and second-degree leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death, according to prosecutors.
The teen remains on home detention and will return to court in February.