Arrest made in Harrison hit and run that injured 90-year-old woman

HARRISON, N.J. (WABC) -- A 90-year-old woman is recovering following surgery after she was run down in a crosswalk in New Jersey by an SUV. Now, police have made an arrest.

Fifty-seven-year-old Steven Mochan, of Kearny, surrendered to police Friday morning and was charged with assault by auto and leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury.

The victim's daughter spoke out about her mother.

The hustle and bustle of a warm Saturday afternoon came to a standstill at 5th and Harrison, with cell phone video showing Mary Hennit sprawled on the pavement, her walker a few feet away on the other side of the crosswalk.

"She stayed healthy and lived 90 years," daughter Eileen Gilgallon said. "To get hit like this."

Eileen returned to her mom's Harrison home to grab some belongings, after Hennit had surgery to repair a major injury to her knee.

"She remembers everything, does remember being hit, she didn't see the car coming," Gilgallon said. "He must have been making a turn quickly and didn't see her for some reason and just hit her and left her."

Hennit was walking to church at the time, in the crosswalk and with the light, when cops say the dark-colored SUV made a left turn from Harrison Avenue.

The impact sent her flying 11 feet, and eyewitnesses say the driver stopped briefly before speeding away.

Prior to the arrest, Gilgallon was keeping things in perspective.

"Whatever, as long as she's alive and I have her," she said. "That's all that matters."