Morristown Resident Sentenced for Fatal Hit-and-Run

Jermaine Edwards, a former Morristown resident, has been sentenced to five years in prison for a fatal hit-and-run accident that occurred in August 2023.

Morristown, NJ – A tragic incident that shook the Morristown community reached a legal resolution on November 17, 2023. Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, along with Chief Detectives Robert McNally and Morristown Police Chief Darnell Richardson, announced the sentencing of Jermaine Edwards for his involvement in a fatal hit-and-run accident.

On October 18, 2023, Edwards entered a guilty plea to the second-degree charge of Knowingly Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death. This plea was submitted before the Hon. Ralph E. Amirata, J.S.C., who then sentenced Edwards to a 5-year term in New Jersey State Prison (NJSP). Additionally, Edwards will face a 5-year license suspension upon release.

The incident occurred on the evening of August 12, 2023, around 9:01 p.m., near Lafayette Avenue and Lackawanna Place in Morristown. Morristown Police officers, responding to reports of a vehicle-pedestrian collision, found a male victim fatally injured, having been struck by a vehicle that fled the scene. Subsequent investigations identified Jermaine Edwards as the driver of the vehicle involved.

This case, leading to a charge of second-degree Leaving the Scene of Accident Resulting in Death, reflects the grave consequences of such traffic violations. Edwards has been held at the Morris County Correctional Facility since his arrest.

The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Morristown Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. The sentencing serves as a sobering reminder of the legal and moral responsibilities of drivers on the road, especially in instances leading to unintended, yet fatal, outcomes.