newjerseynewsroom.com

Essex County First Assistant Prosecutor Carolyn Murray Monday announced that a Newark man has been indicted by an Essex County Grand Jury for his alleged involvement in the fatal hit-and-run death of a father who had been visiting his daughter at Seton Hall University in February. The defendant is also accused of eluding police, driving with a suspended license and endangering the welfare of three children in his vehicle.

Frank Bradley, Jr., 30, was charged Friday in a 13-count indictment with 1st degree aggravated manslaughter, 2nd degree vehicular homicide, 2nd degree eluding police, 2nd degree leaving the scene of an accident, 2nd degree endangering the welfare of a child, 3rd endangering an injured victim, 3rd driving while suspended causing death, and 4th degree cruelty and neglect of a child. Bradley is being held in the Essex County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail. First degree aggravated manslaughter carries a 10-30 year prison term.

According to Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Shelton McCall, Jr., on February 9, 2009, at approximately 8:15 p.m., South Orange police responded to a 911 call of a hit-and-run at South Orange and Vose avenues. Upon arrival, police found the victim, James Walsh, 49, of South Plainfield, lying in the street and suffering from massive injuries. He was taken to University Hospital and was pronounced dead a short time later. Walsh had been visiting his daughter, who attends Seton Hall University, and the two were returning from a local restaurant in South Orange.

Witnesses spotted a black Honda Civic leaving the scene of the accident. The same Honda Civic was being pursued earlier in Orange for a motor vehicle offense. Approximately, 45 minutes following the fatal hit-and-run, South Orange police found the damaged 1995 black Honda Civic in front of the defendant's Columbia Avenue home in Newark. The defendant was taken in for questioning and later charged with the crime. Detectives also developed information that Bradley allegedly had three children in the Civic during the entire incident.

First Assistant Prosecutor Murray commended Detective Vincent Nardone of the Essex County Prosecutor's Vehicular Homicide Unit and Detective Brian McGuire of the South Orange Police Department for the investigation.

— GARRETT MORRISON, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM