OLD BRIDGE, New Jersey – A tragic incident that occurred on Dec. 4 of last year has resulted in the death of a victim, as reported by Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Old Bridge Acting Police Chief, Donald F. Fritz, Jr. The identity of the victim, a teenager, has not yet been released.
The incident took place at around 7:40 a.m. on Dec. 4, 2023, when Old Bridge Police responded to a report of a pedestrian struck at the Wawa on Route 34 in Old Bridge. The victim, identified as Andrew Padulano, 61, of Old Bridge, sustained serious injuries and was transported for treatment, according to authorities. An investigation revealed that Padulano, a Wawa employee, was struck by a Ford F-150 driven by a juvenile following an altercation between the two.
After hitting Padulano, the juvenile fled the scene and was later identified and charged with attempted murder, leaving the scene of a crash resulting in serious bodily injury, and other offenses. While the juvenile was initially arrested and released by the Court, the charges were upgraded to murder and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death after Padulano succumbed to his injuries on Jan. 23.
The juvenile remains on home detention and is expected to return to court in February for a status conference.
This tragic incident has left the community in mourning and serves as a reminder of the consequences of reckless actions. It also highlights the importance of addressing conflict in a non-violent and responsible manner. The legal proceedings will continue to unfold as the case progresses through the court system, providing some measure of closure for the victim’s family and loved ones.