Prosecutors say the driver's Acura had earlier crashed into a Buick, and that witnesses later blocked his car about a half-mile away.
PARAMUS, NJ - October 20, 2026
A woman was fatally struck on Route 17 in Paramus on Monday evening, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, after the driver's vehicle had collided with the car she was riding in. Prosecutors have filed drunk driving and multiple other charges against the driver, Estuardo G. Rodriguez, 31, of Tarrytown, N.Y.
Key Facts
- Date: Monday, around 5 p.m. (reported Tuesday, October 20, 2026)
- Location: Route 17 South, Paramus, Bergen County, New Jersey
- Type of crash: Fatal hit-and-run following a two-vehicle collision
- Vehicles involved: An Acura towing a U-Haul trailer and a Buick
- Injuries / fatalities: Multiple injuries reported; one person died
- Responding agencies: Paramus police; Bergen County Prosecutor's Office
- Reported by: NJ.com, Patch
Crash Overview
Police responded to Route 17 South on Monday around 5 p.m. and found Kristian Reyes Rivera, of the Bronx, lying in the road with serious injuries. She was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said the driver's Acura, which was towing a U-Haul trailer, had crashed into a Buick. Rivera was a passenger in the Buick, driven by her boyfriend. Prosecutors said that after the collision, Rivera got out and struck one of the Acura's windows. They said the driver then drove away, striking her and running her over with the trailer's rear tires. He then drove across part of the Westfield Garden State Plaza mall property.
Witnesses followed the driver and blocked his car in traffic about a half-mile from the scene. They flagged down a Paramus police officer, officials said. Few other details have been reported.
People Involved
- Driver: Estuardo G. Rodriguez, 31, of Tarrytown, N.Y., who faces a drunk driving charge along with several other offenses, according to prosecutors.
- Passenger: Kristian Reyes Rivera, of the Bronx, who died after being taken to the hospital. Some reports describe her as 32, while the prosecutor's account lists her age as 31. This article does not state her age.