NJ Hit-And-Run Driver Abandoned Wounded Pedestrian, Falsely Reported Car Stolen, Police Say

A Wayne man was convicted Friday for a September 2023 hit-and-run in which he struck a pedestrian, a fire hydrant, and the front of a residence before fleeing on foot, leaving the seriously injured victim behind. Nicholas Perota, 23, then reported his car stolen to avoid prosecution, but surveillance footage helped seal his fate, and he now faces up to 18 years at his July 9 sentencing.