the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Closter NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the upgraded charges of JESUS YUNGANAULA TENEMPAGUAY (DOB: 04/10/1986; married; cook) of 33 Johnson Avenue, Floor 2, Hackensack, NJ for vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, and hindering apprehension. The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Closter Police Department under the direction of Chief John McTigue.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., on Sunday, March 26, 2023, the Closter Police Department responded to a report of a hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian that occurred on Durie Avenue in Closter, NJ. The victim, 75-year-old Alan Friedman of Closter, NJ, was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. On Monday, March 27, 2023, Mr. Friedman was pronounced deceased as a result of the injuries he sustained during the collision.
An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Closter Police Department identified JESUS YUNGANAULA TENEMPAGUAY as the driver of the vehicle that struck Mr. Friedman as he walked along Durie Avenue. The investigation further revealed that YUNGANAULA TENEMPAGUAY was intoxicated at the time of the accident and fled the area prior to police arrival.
JESUS YUNGANAULA TENEMPAGUAY was originally charged with third-degree leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in serious bodily injury, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.1; third-degree endangering an injured victim, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.2; and third-degree hindering apprehension, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3b(1). However, on Monday, March 27, 2023, the charges against JESUS YUNGANAULA TENEMPAGUAY were upgraded to second-degree vehicular homicide, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5a; second-degree leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5.1; and third-degree hindering apprehension, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3b(1). He was also served with multiple motor vehicle summonses for violations related to driving while intoxicated. YUNGANAULA TENEMPAGUAY was served with his updated charges and remains in the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing scheduled for March 31, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in Hackensack, NJ.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he would also like to thank the Closter Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance in this investigation.
