JERSEY CITY -- Police have arrested the man they believe was behind the wheel of a stolen SUV that jumped the curb and killed a deaf man on his way home for work.
The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office announced a 19-year-old man was apprehended late Thursday afternoon, just hours after putting out a stern message the suspects will be caught and "can't keep running."
Suspected driver, 19-year-old male, arrested late this afternoon in conjunction with Tuesday's fatal collision on Kennedy Blvd in Jersey City. More info to follow
-- ProsecutorSuarezHCPO (@HCPOProsecutor) January 26, 2018
Details about the arrest and the suspect's identity have not yet been released. Additional information is expected to be released on Friday.
The crash killed 33-year-old Umar King, a beloved member of the deaf community who volunteered as a sign language instructor at the Bethune Center.
Officials say the 19-year-old was speeding down Kennedy Boulevard just before 5 a.m. on Tuesday when a sheriff's officer noticed the driver passing through red lights. The officer began to pursue the vehicle -- which refused to stop -- before crashing near the Communipaw Avenue intersection.
The police officer appears to have been following protocol, officials said.
King was remembered by his friends as a caring and generous man who loved to travel. He was a big sports fan and his favorite athlete was LeBron James.
Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.