Philip, you bring up an important point. The exact time of Damien's death is crucial in this case. If there was any chance that providing immediate aid could have saved him, then Santiago's actions become even more problematic. His decisions, including the cover-up, have serious legal consequences and will likely haunt him for a long time. The charges against him, his passenger, and his mother reflect the severity of the situation. This case is indeed a complex and tragic one with many layers to unravel.
Here are the key facts from the provided text:
1. On November 1, 2021, a Newark, New Jersey cop named Luis Santiago allegedly hit a man named Damien Dimka with his car on the Garden State Parkway at 3 A.M.
2. Damien Dimka died at the scene.
3. Santiago was in the car with his cousin, Albert Guzman, and they left the scene.
4. Santiago's father, Lieutenant Luis Santiago, who is also a police officer, was informed about the incident.
5. Lieutenant Santiago allegedly returned to the scene and put Damien's body back on the parkway before calling 911 to report the accident.
6. Santiago was indicted on 16 charges, including vehicular homicide, tampering with evidence, and hindering prosecution.
7. Albert Guzman and Santiago's mother, Annette Santiago, also face charges related to hindering prosecution, conspiracy, and tampering with physical evidence.
8. There are suspicions that Santiago may have been intoxicated and distracted at the time of the incident.
9. Santiago deleted text messages and phone calls from his phone before turning it over to the police.
These facts provide an overview of the case without including opinions.