Bergen prosecutor is stumped on identity of driver who killed Hackensack woman, 81, as she crossed the street one year ago

After Lillian J. Holmes of Hackensack was killed by a hit-run driver on March 4, 2021, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office issued this stock image of a 2013 or 2014 black BMW X5 SUV with tinted windows, and said the driver is believed to have been involved in the hit-run death of the 81-year-old woman.

 

'Matter remains an open

criminal investigation,'

is the only comment

By VICTOR E. SASSON

EDITOR

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- An 81-year-old Hackensack woman died one year ago today after she was cut down by a hit-run driver as she crossed the street to pick up a prescription, and then run over by a second vehicle.

This week, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office declined to answer any questions concerning the investigation into the death of the woman, Lillian J. Holmes, except to say:

"The matter remains an open criminal investigation at this time."

The second driver stayed on the scene on Polifly Road, between Sutton and Marvin avenues, where a CVS Pharmacy is located, and wasn't charged with any wrongdoing.

But there is no crosswalk or warning signs about pedestrians, even though there is an apartment building on the other side of the 4-lane street. 

Poorly lit at night

In fact, there are no crosswalks or traffic lights for 6 blocks of Polifly Road, from Essex to Lodi streets, and street lighting is poor at night, when the hit-run fatality occurred.

Despite repeated requests from the city, Bergen County hasn't made any improvements in the lighting along Polifly, a county road. 

Nor has the county added crosswalks and warning signs to help pedestrians cross Polifly Road, which is lined with apartment buildings.

OPRA request

I filed a request under the Open Public Records Act for details from members of the prosecutor's Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, but all but one of my questions went unanswered.

The Prosecutor's Office issued a stock image of the BMW SUV, but also supplied a video "of the subject vehicle" to the news media.

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella declined to supply the video to me, but cited a NorthJersey.com story, "which posted a video of the subject vehicle" on March 10, 2021.

But I can't access the video because I do not have a subscription to NorthJersey.com.

Unanswered questions

Before I filed the OPRA request, I tried to obtain information about the investigation from Assistant Prosecutor Elizabeth Rebein, the public information officer for the Prosecutor's Office.

All of my requests were turned down and none of my questions were answered. 

"Our press releases are posted on our website ... for one year," she said in an email. "No one at the BCPO [Bergen County Prosecutor's Office] can speak to you openly or anonymously about how investigations are conducted, including the amount of time spent."

I had asked whether the BMW X5 was registered in New Jersey or New York and whether a man or woman was driving, among other questions.

I also asked for the names of other hit-run victims after Rebein said the Holmes fatality wasn't the only open case. 

READ: Lillian J. Holmes lived a full live

 before hit-run driver killed her