Thirty-four-year-old Ronald Pables faces multiple counts in the death of a 16-year-old he is alleged to have struck with his vehicle February 8.
By Matt Skoufalos | February 23, 2023
Cherry Hill Police have charged a Mount Laurel man in connection with the February 8 hit-and-run death of a 16-year-old boy in the township.
Around 5 a.m. February 8, authorities responded to Springdale Road near the entrance to Springdale Farm for a report of a person lying on the side of the road.
According to Cherry Hill Police Captain Robert Schuenemann, arriving officers discovered a 16-year-old boy who had sustained life-threatening injuries after having been hit by the driver of a vehicle.
The teen was transported to a nearby hospital, but ultimately died from injuries sustained in the incident.
Detectives were able to surmise a possible make, model and year of the vehicle involved in the crash, and after forwarding the information to authorities throughout the area, identified the man they allege was its driver, thanks to a lead provided by Mount Laurel Police.
Ronald Pables, 34, was arrested February 18, and charged with one count of second-degree Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident and one count of third-degree Endangering the Welfare of an Injured Victim. If convicted, he could face jail time and financial penalties.
Pables was charged and released on his own recognizance.
The area of the crash is poorly lit, rural, and one in which vehicles frequently speed, and the victim was reportedly walking on the shoulder of the road, and in the lane of travel, at the time of the incident.
Nonetheless, Cherry Hill Police Chief Robert Kempf said the driver should have stopped immediately at the moment of the collision. A passerby reported it to police hours later.
“The whole thing’s a tragedy,” Kempf said. “You may not have seen him, but you certainly knew you hit somebody.”
After events such as these, the chief said the department typically deploys officers for highway safety initiatives using funds from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.
Thus far in 2023, New Jersey has seen 82 fatalities from 79 traffic crashes statewide, down from 81 fatalities during the same period of time last year. Of those, 35 have been pedestrians, and four, including the victim in this case, were aged 16 or younger.
Anyone with more information regarding this incident is asked to call the Cherry Hill Police Department Traffic Safety Unit at (856)488-7820. Anonymous tips may be submitted anonymously to tips@cherryhillpolice.com or via Nixle. To text a tip, send “TIP CHERRYHILLPD” followed by your message to 888777.
All persons charged with a crime are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. An arrest is not a conviction.
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