Man arrested last week in fatal hit-and-run crash in Norristown – NBC10 Philadelphia

A man was arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred in Norristown last weekend, police said.

Jean Carlos Esmeraldas Cruz, 26, was driving a Hyundai Santa Fe along the 300 block of West Main Street around 10:45 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, when he struck 57-year-old Brian Clark, officials said.

Police arrived at the scene and found Clark with numerous injuries and in cardiac arrest. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Norristown police and Montgomery County investigators obtained surveillance video showing a dark-colored SUV with a non-working headlight and a damaged windshield, indicating a collision with a pedestrian, investigators said. On Monday, May 20, Norristown police spotted a black Hyundai Santa Fe on East Wood Street.

The vehicle was covered with a tarp to conceal the damage to the left front end and windshield, investigators said. Police also found human hair in the damaged windshield. Investigators also found surveillance video showing two men exiting the damaged Santa Fe and returning to cover the vehicle with a tarp, investigators said.

Investigators found the vehicle’s passenger and identified the driver as 26-year-old Jean Carlos Emeraldas Cruz of Norristown. Investigators said Cruz was driving the Santa Fe eastbound on Main Street on May 19 when he struck Clark and then drove down Main Street at a high rate of speed before turning onto Markley Street.

After fleeing the scene, the two returned to Cruz’s apartment, where he told his girlfriend what had happened, police said. A short time later, they retrieved a sheet from a bedroom and returned to the car to cover it.

Cruz and his passenger then returned to the scene of the accident on foot and noticed the investigating officers there, police said. Cruz then fled the scene of the accident, investigators said.

After police found the covered car, Cruz told the person who was riding in the car as a passenger during the crash that Cruz needed to leave with his girlfriend and children, investigators said.

The passenger allegedly told investigators that Cruz screamed and tried to stop the vehicle but was unable to, leading to the crash that killed Clark. Cruz then told the passenger he did not have a driver’s license.

Investigators attempted to contact Cruz on Wednesday, but neighbors told them they had not seen Cruz, his girlfriend and their children in several days, officials said. The neighbors said that was unusual. A warrant was issued for Cruz’s arrest on May 23.

Also on Wednesday, investigators contacted Cruz’s employer, who informed them that Cruz had stated he could not come to work due to a family emergency.