What to Know
- New Brunswick High School vice principal Tyrone Harrison was mowed down and killed by an apparent drag racer in Piscataway Saturday night
- Harrison, 49, was a popular educator, and had been on his way to a relative's house from the Edison train station
- Authorities arrested 21-year-old Freddy S. Garcia of Piscataway Thursday in the hit-and-run death
Prosecutors say a 21-year-old man has been arrested in the hit-and-run death of a popular New Jersey high school vice principal who was mowed down during an alleged drag race Saturday night.
Freddy S. Garcia of Piscataway was arrested and charged Thursday with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, causing death while driving with a suspended license, hindering, galse reports to law enforcement, the Middlesex County prosecutor says.
He's also been issued a dozen motor vehicular summonses. Attorney information for Garcia wasn't immediately available.
"We are targeting drunk driving, drugged driving, distracted driving and now, illegal street racing," said Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey.
Prosecutors say Garca was among several people drag racing on Stelton Road Saturday night when he allegedly lost control of his 2003 Honda Accord, hitting and killing 49-year-old Tyrone Harrison as he was walking from the Edison train station to a relative's house.
Harrison, a vice principal at New Brunswick High School, was pronounced dead at the scene.
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The Honda was recovered at the scene after prosecutors say the driver lost control and mowed down Harrison, crashed through a sign and finally came to a stop.
Garcia, who allegedly belonged to the 78 Imports car club believed to have been involved in the drag race, later falsely reported that his car, which wasn't registered or insured, was stolen.
A second man, 21-year-old Sohjah Powell-Warner of Piscataway, was arrested Friday for hindering, accused of altering the 78 Imports Facebook and Instagram pages.
"We've learned an awful lot in this case," said Carey. "I plan on throwing it with my law enforcement partners, and we will be cutting down on illegal street racing."
New Brunswick schools superintendent Dr. Aubrey Johnson told News 4 on Wednesday, "To tell you that we're doing well, I can't say that. Mr. Harrison was a staple here in New Brunswick, for 17 years as a teacher."
Ken Redler, principal at New Brunswick High School, called Harrison "the most peaceful man in the world."
"Mr. Harrison walked in the hallway, always listening," he said.
