Story by Ethan
On May 11th, 2026, the arrest of Terrence J. Hedden, age 38, was announced by Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella. Terrence J. Hedden was charged with second-degree Knowingly Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death, third-degree Endangering an Injured Victim, and other unspecified traffic violations. The arrest and charges against Terrence J. Hedden were a result of an investigation handled by Chief Jeff Angermeyer of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Chief Michael Antista of the Hackensack Police Department.
According to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, at approximately 12:49 a.m. on May 8th, 2026, reports of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle were made at the intersection of Essex Street and Summit Avenue in Hackensack, New Jersey. Responding officers had determined that the 74-year-old victim’s injuries corresponded with being hit by a vehicle at high speeds and that the vehicle in question had fled immediately after the collision. The victim was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center and was pronounced as dead shortly after arriving. A joint investigation was initiated by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes and Fatal Accident Investigation Units and the Bergen County Fatal Accident Task Force. It was revealed that Terrence J. Hedden was driving westbound on Essex Street in a 2021 Honda Pilot when he allegedly hit the victim who was trying to cross Summit Avenue. After the collision the defendant didn’t stop his vehicle to report the accident or render any aid to the victim, instead choosing to flee from the scene. The vehicle in question was located which led to Terrence J. Hedden’s arrest by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Hackensack Police Department.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the charges against Terrence J. Hedden are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
