Police have made an arrest of a suspect in the hit-and-run accident that left a five-year-old Newark dead Thursday evening.
The tragedy happened at about 8:40 pm near 30 Columbus Avenue, where little Julianne Vega was crossing the street in front of her home, police said. She was rushed to University Hospital and pronounced dead shortly after 9 p.m., according to officials.
Police later located a car that matches the description of the vehicle that killed Julianne -- a navy blue Mercedes, which was impounded.
Shortly after that, 25-year-old Saleem Wright surrendered to officials at the Christian Love Baptist Church in Irvington, N.J., after meeting with the church's pastor, Rev. Ron Christian.
"This is a tragedy on both sides, for both families," Christian told NBCNewYork.
Wright's lawyer, Gerald Saluti, says his client called him as soon as he learned that police wanted to talk to him about the hit and run on Columbia Street. Asked whether Saleem White was driving the blue Mercedes Benz that struck the little girl, he said "The prosecutor's office will sort that all out."
Meanwhile, balloons, candles and teddy bears adorn the outside of the family's home where grieving relatives prepare to plan her funeral.
