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WOMAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH BLOOMFIELD HIT-AND-RUN | The Law Offices of Smith & Gaynor, P.C.

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HOME > Morristown, New Jersey Personal Injury Law Blog | The Law Offices of Smith & Gaynor, P.C. > 2015 > April 2015 Archives | Morristown, New Jersey Personal Injury Law Blog > WOMAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH BLOOMFIELD HIT-AND-RUN | The Law Offices of Smith & Gaynor, P.C.

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WOMAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH BLOOMFIELD HIT-AND-RUN

The New Jersey State Police announced Thursday that an arrest has been made in relation to an April 10th hit-and-run accident that occurred on the southbound side of the Garden State Parkway near Bloomfield.

Police say that 43-year-old Usha Govindarajulu, a professor at SUNY Downstate School of Public Health, struck Perth Amboy resident Donald Drakeford as he was changing a tire on the side of the road. The collision, which occurred at 12:55 a.m. in the morning, caused Drakeford’s body to be dragged along with the car, leaving him severely injured with a compound fracture in his leg. Drakeford’s condition has been reported as stabilized, according to the University Hospital in Newark.

Police have reported that after striking Drakeford, Govindarajulu briefly stopped to collect some debris before driving away. A press release has since revealed that Govindarajulu is being charged with assault by auto, aggravated assault, leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury, and hindering apprehension.

“To drive off and leave someone knowing that you caused bodily harm to that person and leave them there… I’m terribly upset,” said Darlyn Copper, Drakeford’s sister-in-law.

Govindarajulu is currently incarcerated in the Essex County Jail in lieu of a $50,000 bail.

In addition to the criminal charges, Govindarajulu may also be civilly liable to Drakeford and required to pay for his damages, which could include present and future medical expenses, lost wages from time he missed from work or if he is disabled from working, pain and suffering, mental anguish and more. If you’ve been injured in a hit-and-run accident in or around Morristown, Madison, Parsippany, or anywhere in the Morris County area, make sure that you’re made completely whole by securing knowledgeable legal counsel. Contact the attorneys at Smith & Doranfor a free consultation regarding your case by calling (973) 292-0096.

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