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Maywood Police Dog Helps Lead Investigators Toward Hit-Run Killer

MAYWOOD, N.J. -- A Maywood police dog helped authorities identify the hit-and-run driver who killed a woman waiting for a bus.

Zoey with Maywood K-9 Police Officer Chris Nichols

Zoey with Maywood K-9 Police Officer Chris Nichols

Photo Credit: COURTESY: Maywood PD

Police in North Bergen "specifically reached out for Zoey because of the bloodhound's extreme tracking skills" after Luisa Valdes, 59, of Union City, was struck by a Hyundai Santa Fe on Tuesday, Maywood Police Chief David Pegg said.

"Zoey was able to track the driver, identified as Olvy R. Torres, 36, of New York, from the crime scene to where he used further transportation to flee," the chief said.

"Although I cannot get into specifics, law enforcement credited Zoey with picking up their investigation and leading them towards the suspect," he said.

The victim, who worked at The Harborage in Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center, was waiting at a bus shelter at 7600 River Road near the Edgewater border when the SUV jumped the curb, authorities said.

Torres jumped out and ran off, they said.

Authorities obtained a warrant charging him with leaving the scene of a fatal accident resulting in death.

Anyone with any information that could help find him is asked to contact the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Unit at (201) 915-1300 or North Bergen police at (201) 392-2100.

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