Old Tappan Woman Arrested for Hit-and-Run DWI; Paterson Man Seriously Injured

OLD TAPPAN, N.J.—A Paterson man was seriously injured by a hit-and-run driver when struck June 11 at 12:35 p.m. in the Bi-State Plaza in Old Tappan, Police Chief Thomas M. Shine said. 

Meredith L. Lubell, 33, who lives on DeWolf Road in the borough, was arrested after being identified as the driver, Shine said.

Multiple people called police to alert them that a pedestrian had been struck by a blue Jeep Liberty that left the scene, Shine said. Responding officers spoke to a witness, and obtained the license plate, which was registered to the address with Lubell resides, Shine said. 

“Old Tappan Officers responded to the address and found Meredith Lubell was home,” Shine said. “After interviewing Ms. Lubell, probable cause was determined that she would be placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash with injuries.”

The victim, Denis Bursac of Paterson, was transported by ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Shine said. 

Lubell was released pending a court date, Shine said. She faces charges of second degree assault by auto, and third degree endangering an injured victim. She also faces motor vehicle charges of driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated in a school zone, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a crash with injuries, leaving the scene of a crash with injuries without rendering assistance and failure to report a crash.

This article was updated to reflect that Lubell was released pending a court date, after Shine initially said her transfer to Bergen County Jail was pending.