Prosecutors Allege Intoxicated Driver Struck & Seriously Injured Pedestrian Near Cedar Lane Cinema

Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 6:15 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

TEANECK, NJ.- A 55-year-old Bergen County, New Jersey, man has been arrested and charged in connection with a late-night pedestrian crash in Teaneck that left a local resident seriously injured, authorities announced.

     Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella confirmed the arrest of Tobias Aparicio Cruz, 55, of Bogota, New Jersey, on charges stemming from an alleged driving-while-intoxicated assault by auto incident. The arrest followed a joint investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the Teaneck Police Department, led by Chief Andrew R. McGurr.

     According to prosecutors, on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at approximately 11:16 p.m., Teaneck Police Officers responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting that a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle on Cedar Lane near the Teaneck Cinemas.

     Upon arrival, officers determined that a 2005 Nissan Sentra, operated by Aparicio Cruz, had struck a 53-year-old male pedestrian from Teaneck. Emergency medical personnel transported the victim by ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center, where he was treated for serious injuries and remains hospitalized as of this report.

     During the on-scene investigation, responding Police Officers took Aparicio Cruz into custody on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Due to the severity of the victim’s injuries, the Teaneck Police Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, prompting a broader investigative response.

    Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Office, along with investigators from the Bergen County Fatal Accident Task Force, responded to the scene and initiated a joint investigation with Teaneck Police to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.

     As a result of that investigation, Aparicio Cruz was formally charged with one count of third-degree assault by auto, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1c(2). He was also issued summonses for related motor-vehicle offenses, including driving while intoxicated.

     Following his arrest, Aparicio Cruz was processed on the charges and was transported to the Bergen County Jail, where he is being held pending his first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.

     Authorities emphasized that all charges are accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Editor’s Note:

This article was written by Art Fletcher, Executive Editor, and is based on official statements and charging documents released by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and participating law-enforcement agencies. The investigation remains ongoing. Englebrook Independent News will continue to follow this case and report additional developments as they are confirmed through court proceedings and official sources.