Arrest Made In Hit-And-Run Death Of Union 12-Year-Old: Prosecutor

PARSIPPANY, NJ — A Parsippany man has been charged in connection to the hit-and-run death of a 12-year-old boy two weeks ago in Union, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo said Friday night.

Jose V. Marrero, 37, of the Lake Hiawatha section of Parsippany, turned himself in on Friday night, and has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Marrero is accused of hitting 12-year-old Jeremy Maraj in Union on July 17 and driving away.

Police say Marrero was driving his work car, a cargo van, when he struck Maraj, who was on his way home from a local park.

The boy was taken to University Hospital in Newark, but was pronounced dead two days later.

Marrero was taken to the Union County Jail after turning himself in, pending a first appearance in Superior Court.

Maraj was a "delightful young man who had a positive impact on anyone he was around," a family friend wrote in an online fundraiser.

"I can honestly say my life and the lives of all those he knew and loved were better because of him. He loved to play soccer and basketball and I'm not ashamed to admit he was better at both than I am or ever was. His memory will live on in all of us," said Tom Ehrhardt, Jeremy's neighbor who created a GoFundMe page in his memory.

Maraj's legacy lives on through his organ donation, facilitated by the NJ Sharing Network in New Providence.

"This wonderful act has turned what is a tragedy to those who knew and loved Jeremy into a blessing for others. God bless you Jeremy and family," Ehrhardt said.

Read More:

• Union Boy Killed In Crash Gives Gift Of Life, Donates Organs
• Boy, 12, Dies After Hit-And-Run In Union, Fundraiser Started