Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 29-year-old STEVEEN G. NOVILLO-CABRERA of Kearny, NJ on charges stemming from a fatal hit-and-run accident. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Lyndhurst Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard Jarvis.
As previously reported, on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at approximately 9:49 p.m., the Lyndhurst Police Department received a 9-1-1 call reporting that a pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle. The pedestrian, who was identified as 57-year-old George Arnold of Lyndhurst, NJ, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Accordingly, the Lyndhurst Police Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, which responded to the scene and initiated a joint investigation.
The investigation revealed that a 2020 Honda Civic struck the victim as he was attempting to cross Ridge Road near the intersection of Milton Avenue. Following the collision with the pedestrian, the Honda fled the scene of the accident. Detectives identified STEEVEN G. NOVILLO-CABRERA as the driver of the Honda and determined that he attempted to repair the vehicle after the collision to conceal his involvement in the incident.
As a result of the investigation, on Friday, October 11, 2024, STEVEEN G. NOVILLO-CABRERA was arrested in Lyndhurst, NJ and charged with second-degree knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, N.J.S.A 2C:11-5.1; third-degree hindering apprehension, N.J.S.A 2C:29-3B(1); third-degree endangering an injured victim, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.2A; and fourth-degree tampering with evidence, N.J.S.A. 2C:28-6(1); as well as related motor vehicle offenses. NOVILLO-CABRERA was transported to Bergen County Jail pending his appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.