Family seeks the public’s help identifying driver in deadly hit-and-run

A New Jersey family is pleading with the public for help identifying the driver responsible for killing their loved one in a hit-and-run crash last year.

News 12 Staff

May 17, 2019, 1:56 AM

Updated 1,812 days ago

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A New Jersey family is pleading with the public for help identifying the driver responsible for killing their loved one in a hit-and-run crash last year.
It has been nine months since the Kukuch family lost their son John in the Aug. 13 crash on Route 1 in Woodbridge. The family now hopes that three billboards they have purchased will help lead to a break in the case.
“We refuse to give up,” says John’s sister Jen Bentivegna.
Two billboards have been placed in North Brunswick, along with one in Newark. The electronic billboards feature a photo of John and his now-9-year-old son, along with an offer of a $10,000 reward leading to information on the driver of a dark-colored SUV that struck John.
"I'm hoping that somebody sees it and maybe knows something...overheard something,” Bentivegna says.
Police have an image of the SUV from a nearby surveillance camera but can only make out that it is dark-colored.
The family says that John was walking southbound on Route 1 on his way home from a night out when he was run down. Police have received about 70 tips, but none have helped lead to an arrest.
The billboards are paid for by area realtor Rob Dekanski who usually has his own advertisements up there.
"I figured let me just give them a few. And it wasn't about me being recognized I just want to get the message out there,” he says.
Dekanski says that he learned about the situation from a mutual friend of the family. He says that he hopes that the family can get closure and justice.
Anyone who may have information about the crash should contact the Woodbridge Police Department at 732-634-7700.


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