MT. LAUREL, N.J. (WPVI) — A California man has been charged in the hit-and-run death of a New Jersey man riding an electric bicycle in Mount Laurel Township, authorities said.
Thair Maroki, 40, of El Cajon, California, was charged with second-degree vehicular homicide and second-degree leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
Police were called to the southbound shoulder of the 1100 block of Route 73 at about 12:15 a.m. Monday for a report of an unresponsive man lying along the roadway.
Investigators later identified the victim as Anthony Caprio III, 49, of Magnolia.
Lieutenant Thomas Corsanico of the Mount Laurel Police Department said Caprio was riding his e-bike on the shoulder when he was struck.
Using surveillance video from nearby businesses and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, detectives identified the suspect vehicle as a white 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Corsanico said the vehicle dragged victim for approximately a quarter mile down Route 73.
Investigators also discovered that the vehicle returned to the scene shortly after the crash.
“Our investigation also revealed that based off our responding officers’ body worn camera, that the vehicle actually was seen coming back to the scene approximately 20 minutes after the accident occurred,” Corsanico said.
Police issued an alert after learning the vehicle had traveled through Passaic and Bergen counties. On Thursday afternoon, Lyndhurst police located the Jeep and stopped the driver.
Authorities said Maroki was taken into custody and transported to the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly. He’s currently being detained and his court appearance is set for Tuesday.
Corsanico said investigators were mindful of the timing of the arrest for the victim’s family.
“We’re happy we were able to obviously provide closure to the Caprio family, especially this time of year, the new year, holidays. It’s extremely difficult for them, I can imagine,” he said.
Caprio’s mother, Michele Caprio, said her son had been planning a short bike ride when he was killed.
“I pleaded with him not to go, but he said he wanted to go up to Wawa to see his friend,” she said.
She said her son was days away from a milestone birthday.
“He would have been 50 next week,” she said.
Still struggling to process the loss, she described the moments after realizing something was wrong.
“I’m just in shock. I haven’t really cried ’cause I’m just like in shock,” she said. “He wasn’t answering the phone and the next couple hours I got a knock on my door.”
She added, “Anthony, I always loved you so much. You have no idea how much I loved you.”
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