Manchester Fire Chief Killed in NJ Turnpike Work-Zone Hit-and-Run; Driver Charged With Aggravated Manslaughter
A Manchester Township fire chief was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while working in a construction zone on the New Jersey Turnpike in Edison early on October 13, 2026, according to New Jersey State Police. Brian Flanagan, 47, of Manchester, was working with a roadway crew inside a marked construction area on the turnpike's southbound outer roadway near milepost 87.7 in Middlesex County when a GMC SUV entered the work zone and struck him at 3:52 a.m. Flanagan sustained fatal injuries.
State Police spokesman Sgt. First Class Charles Marchan said the work zone was properly marked and two lanes were closed at the time. The driver did not stop and fled the scene. Following a preliminary investigation, State Police identified the driver as Anthony Bernardi, 40, of Edison, and arrested him.
Bernardi was charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree vehicular homicide, and second-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in a fatality. He is being held at the Middlesex County Jail pending a detention hearing. The charges are allegations and remain to be decided in court.
Flanagan served as chief of the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company in Manchester Township. In a statement, the fire company remembered him not only as its chief but as a husband, father, uncle, friend and brother to its members, saying his loss leaves a hole that can never be filled. Fire departments across the state and members of the community expressed grief and condolences as news of his death spread.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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