Verona Business Owner Killed In Hit And Run

Matthew BeneduceMcGrath, the owner of Benegrathic Sign Design, carved the sign for the Verona High School Hall of Fame and many other prominent signs in Verona and across Essex County.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Verona Police Chief Mitchell Stern have announced that authorities are investigating an incident in which a Verona resident was fatally injured by a hit and run vehicle Friday night, June 24.

At approximately 9:30 p.m., Verona police officers responded to the area of Bloomfield Ave and Hillcrest Terrace on reports of pedestrian struck. Arriving officers located the victim and he was rushed to University Hospital in Newark. The victim, who has been identified as Matthew BeneduceMcGrath, age 59, was pronounced dead at 9:58 p.m., according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly, of the Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit.

This matter is being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Task Force and the Verona Police Department. The investigation is active and ongoing at this time, according to Fennelly. Anyone with information is asked to call the Essex County Prosecutor’s Tips Line at (877) 847-7432 or the Verona Police Department at (973) 239-5000.