Two women killed in hitandrun walking home from World Cup watch party Owen ScottThu, June 25, 2026 at 11:51 AM UTC 0 Two women were fatally struck in a hitandrun incident in Newark while crossing the street (ABC7) Two women were killed crossing the street in a hitandrun in New Jersey, after reportedly attending a World Cup watch party. Mariana Elizabeth Valverde Beltran, 58, and Maria Isabel DeLosAngeles Salgado Ayala, 61, were fatally struck on Saturday, with the car filmed driving away after the collision.
Two women killed in hit-and-run walking home from World Cup watch party
Owen ScottThu, June 25, 2026 at 11:51 AM UTC
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Two women were fatally struck in a hit-and-run incident in Newark while crossing the street (ABC7)
Two women were killed crossing the street in a hit-and-run in New Jersey, after reportedly attending a World Cup watch party.
Mariana Elizabeth Valverde Beltran, 58, and Maria Isabel DeLosAngeles Salgado Ayala, 61, were fatally struck on Saturday, with the car filmed driving away after the collision.
The victims were rushed to University Hospital where they were both pronounced dead, Essex County prosecutors said.
Suspect David J. Zapata-Vera, a 26-year-old of Newark, surrendered to police on June 23.
He has been charged with two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide, two counts of second-degree leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, and two counts of third-degree endangering an injured victim.
Video footage of the incident obtained by ABC7 shows a red vehicle barreling through an intersection as the two women crossed the road. After being struck by the car, the pair were thrown airborne.
First responders at a firehouse just yards away from the collision rushed over to try to help the pair, who were hit at Park Avenue and North 7th Street.
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Beltran’s cousin Jeffrey Chacon told ABC7 that the tragic incident is something that the driver will have to live with.
“I hope the person is found but also for that person it's something you have to live with for the rest of your life, it's on your conscience,” he said.
David J. Zapata-Vera surrendered to the police on June 23 and has been charged in relation to the incident (Essex County Prosecutor's Office)
Beltran came to the U.S. three years ago to work at a bank, Chacon told the outlet.
“A contagious laugh, always laughing,” he said, describing her. “When her and my dad… her and my dad got along really well, so she was here pretty much every other weekend.”
“My dad is managing his emotions with trying to contact everyone in Ecuador, her sisters, her son.”
Residents told ABC7 that speeding has been an ongoing issue at several of the intersections along Park Avenue.
“It's very dangerous. I usually wait a few seconds even if it turns red, because they speed right through,” Newark resident Judite told the outlet.
The Independent has contacted the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, the Newark Police Department and Randy E. Lewis, Zapata-Vera’s attorney, for comment.
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: June 25, 2026 at 03:27PM on Source: MORNING MAG
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