Suspect questioned after NYPD officer killed in NJ Turnpike hit-and-run

Police are investigating a number of deadly hit-and-runs in and around the city over the weekend that included an off-duty NYPD officer.

William Espinal-Mejia, 35, turned himself in to authorities and was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

He allegedly fatally struck Officer Vincent Harrison, 25, on the highway early Sunday in Elizabeth.

Harrison was pronounced dead at the scene.

Harrison, of Valley Stream, N.Y., was traveling in the Turnpike’s southbound outer lanes when his Cruze made contact with the Escape, which was in the right lane, state police said. “The Harrison vehicle came to a final rest on the right shoulder while the Ford was in the right and right-center lanes”, the department said on Facebook. They said Harrison was switching into the right lane near milepost 102 when the collision occurred. Harrison got out of his vehicle and was struck by an Infiniti, which stopped briefly and then left the scene before police arrived.

Police are also hunting for the drivers in two other fatal hit-and runs – one in Brooklyn and one in Queens.

About 20 minutes later in Park Slope, a 41-year-old bicyclist was struck by a gold sedan at 9th Street and 5th Avenue. The driver was located and investigators were consulting with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office to determine appropriate charges, police said.