BAYONNE NEW JERSEY MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN CONNECTION TO THE SEPTEMBER 2020 FATAL HIT AND RUN IN BAYONNE NEW JERSEY
" James Nichols, Pleads Guilty To Second Degree Leaving The Scene Of A Fatal Accident Which Occurred In The City Of Bayonne On September 10, 2021."
October 26, 2021 By Joanne Alvarez Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
BAYONNE, NJ.- On Tuesday, October 26, 2021 Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced that James Nichols, age 51, of Bayonne, New Jersey Pleaded Guilty on Monday, October 25, 2021 to One Count of Second Degree Leaving the Scene of an Accident resulting in the death of John Hagans which occurred on September 10, 2020 in Bayonne, New Jersey.
On Thursday, September 10, 2020, at approximately 10:20 p.m., Members of The Bayonne Police Department responded to Avenue C and the area of 25th Street on reports of a pedestrian struck with life-threatening injuries. The victim was identified as John Hagans, 50, of Jersey City, New Jersey. Mr. Hagans succumbed to his injuries, and was pronounced deceased at 10:41 p.m. at the scene.
An investigation conducted by The Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit and the Bayonne Police Department revealed that the victim was attempting to cross Avenue C when he was struck by a dark-colored vehicle that was traveling southbound on Avenue C. The driver of the vehicle subsequently fled the scene.
The ensuing investigation determined that Mr. Nichols was driving a Ford F-150 at a high rate of speed when he hit Mr. Hagans in the area of Avenue C and 25th Street in Bayonne. Mr. Nichols was later Arrested and Charged by Members of The Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit.
In accordance to the terms of the plea agreement, The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office will recommend a Sentence of Five Years in New Jersey State Prison and a Consecutive Two Year Driver License Suspension. Sentencing in this case has been scheduled for December 17, 2021 before The Honorable John A. Young Jr., J.S.C., who accepted the Guilty Plea on Monday.
FILED UNDER OCTOBER 26, 2021: LAW, HUDSON: