A Newark New Jersey man pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter charges stemming from a fatal auto accident on a Jersey City road.

The suspect, a 33-year-old man from Newark, is likely on his way to New Jersey State Prison after admitting that he caused a fatal crash in West New York, NJ.

The fatal accident occurred around 8:00 a.m. on February 19, 2016. The suspect was behind the wheel of an SUV and traveling along Van Buren Place in West New York when he hit two pedestrians crossing at the intersection with 61st Street. The victims, a seven-year-old girl and her mom, were on their way to the girl’s school at the time of the accident.

After striking the victims, the suspect stopped his vehicle for a moment but then soon fled the scene without even offering to help. Later, the suspect attempted to hide his involvement in the crash by reporting that his SUV had been stolen prior to the collision.

Police later identified the suspect and placed him under arrest. He was charged with a number of crimes, including vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident, endangering an injured victim, and hindering apprehension.

The suspect managed to avoid a trial in Hudson County Superior Court by reaching a plea agreement. In exchange for the suspect pleading guilty to most of the charges, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office agreed to drop the most serious charges of vehicular manslaughter.

For more information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Newark Man Facing 11 Years for Fatal Hit-and-Run of 7-Year-Old Girl.”