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Arrest Made In Deadly Camden County Hit-Run

By Robin Rieger

HADDON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) – Police have made an arrest in a deadly hit-and-run in Camden County, New Jersey Sunday night.

The incident occurred shortly after 7 p.m. along the 700 block of Black Horse Pike in Haddon Township.

Police say 50-year-old Timothy Polijczuk of Mount Ephraim was driving a blue Chevrolet truck with a refrigeration box mounted to bed of it when he struck 67-year-old Joyce Putmon of Blackwood as she crossed the street. The driver fled the scene. Putmon was taken to Cooper University Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

"(I'm) very sorry to the victims," said Polijczuk as he left the Haddon Township police station in handcuffs Monday afternoon. He said he didn't know he hit someone. "I wasn't aware what happened."

Investigators say it appears the victim was going from the Audubon Shopping Center to the bus stop when she was hit.

"She would get the bus and go shopping," said neighbor Fred Schroeder. "She would bring me gifts at the end of the year for mowing her lawn."

On Monday morning, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said the pick-up truck involved in the deadly incident was found in Gloucester City, New Jersey after police received a tip from a member of the public who saw news reports about the death. The truck was registered to The Crab Shop in Mount Ephraim, a business which Polijczuk owns.

Polijczuk was charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident With a Fatality, Causing Death While Driving On a Suspended License and Operating a Motor Vehicle on a Suspended License.

According to New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission, Polijczuk has a driver record dating back to 1979. The MVC says since 1980 his license has been suspended 56 times. He has multiple speeding and careless driving violations. MVC records indicate Polijczuk has four DUI's and has his license suspended indefinitely. He was issued numerous motor vehicle violations and was ordered held at the Camden County Jail in lieu of $192,500 bail.

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