A 68-year-old man is dead, the victim of a hit-and-run in New Jersey last Friday, and the driver remains on the run. The case has quickly become entangled in questions surrounding immigration policy and law enforcement cooperation.
Wilson “Adrian” Morocho-Necta, 33, has been identified as the driver. Authorities now know he entered the United States illegally in 2019, crossing the southern border. A judge issued a final order for his removal, and he was sent back to Mexico.
But Morocho-Necta didn’t stay away. He re-entered the country illegally, the time and location of that re-entry currently unknown. Now, he’s a fugitive, actively sought by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
The victim, Justo Pilco-Tenesaca of Morristown, was struck by a truck and pinned underneath. Desperate 911 calls flooded in from witnesses as Morocho-Necta fled the scene on foot. Despite being rushed to a hospital, Pilco-Tenesaca succumbed to his injuries.
The truck was registered to HC Home Improvement & Construction. The company owner expressed shock and dismay, stating he was “friggin’ mortified” by the incident. He is cooperating with the investigation.
Complicating the search, New Jersey’s “Immigrant Trust Directive” limits cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities. This policy, often described as a “sanctuary” policy, aims to foster trust within immigrant communities, encouraging reporting of crimes without fear of deportation.
Morocho-Necta is currently charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and endangering an injured victim. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office is aware of his immigration status and is actively seeking the public’s help in locating him.
Prosecutors intend to request pre-trial detention, citing the Criminal Justice Reform Act. The search continues, raising difficult questions about the intersection of local policy, federal law, and the pursuit of justice for a grieving family.
