JERSEY CITY – Almost six months after a nighttime motorcycle-SUV collision claimed the life of a Jersey City police officer, the SUV’s unlicensed driver surrendered.
In a statement, the Hudson County District Attorney’s Office said Rafael Rodriguez-Rivera, 30, of Jersey City, surrendered Monday morning and was charged with one count of third degree death then that he was driving without a license.
Officer Morton Otundo was on leave in the early morning hours of July 16, 2021 when, according to authorities, his Yamaha motorcycle struck a Ford Escape, driven by Rodriguez-Rivera, attempting to turn left at the avenue intersection. Communipaw. and Woodward Street in Jersey City.
Rodriguez-Rivera was not identified by name at the time, but was reportedly briefly hospitalized.
The prosecutor’s office said an investigation revealed that Rodriguez-Rivera did not have a valid New Jersey driver’s license at the time of the crash.
Rodriguez-Rivera was released on summons and is due in court on February 8.
Patrick Lavery is the anchor for the New Jersey 101.5 afternoon news. Follow it on Twitter @ plavery1015 or send an email to patrick.lavery@townsquaremedia.com.
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