NJIT employee struck, killed walking to work, police say

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force is investigating the circumstances surrounding a motor vehicle crash that killed an employee a New Jersey Institute of Technology as he was walking to work Thursday.

Authorities say 70-year-old Richard Sweeney of Metuchen was crossing the street around 7:45 a.m. in the area of Central Avenue and Lock Street in Newark when he was struck by a Nissan Altima being operated by a female driver.

Sweeney was transported by emergency crews to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead at 10:45 a.m., according to the Prosecutor's Office.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the fatal accident and say that no charges against the driver have been filed at this time. Police say the driver remained at the scene after the incident occurred.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.