Story by Ethan
On March 28th, 2026, the arrest of Jose Perez-Parada, age 35, was announced by Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. Jose Perez-Parada was charged with Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Crash Resulting in Bodily Injury. The arrest and charges against Jose Perez-Parada were a result of an investigation handled by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit Vehicular Homicide Squad, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, at approximately 8:30 p.m. on March 26th, 2026, a hit-and-run involving an injured pedestrian was reported in the area of Hope Chapel Road and Hope Hill Lane in Lakewood, New Jersey. A joint investigation into the crash was initiated by the Lakewood Township Police Department, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit Vehicular Homicide Squad, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit. Detectives uncovered that a Hyundai Elantra was traveling northbound on Hope Chapel Road before failing to stop and striking a pedestrian. The vehicle in question then fled the scene while the victim was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey, while in critical condition that later stabilized. Detectives were able to identify Jose Perez-Parada as the individual allegedly responsible for operating the Hyundai Elantra at the time of the collision.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the charges against Jose Perez-Parada are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
