Lawyer: Driver in hit-and-run that hurt Montclair State University student panicked after feeling bump in road

CLIFTON (WABC) -- The lawyer for a man charged in a hit-and-run crash that left a New Jersey college student critically injured said his client panicked after feeling a bump in the road.

Michael Choynowski, 27, of North Arlington, was arrested Thursday after an extensive investigation by the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office and the Clifton Police Department.

Prosecutors said he knowingly left the scene of a crash that injured 22-year-old Anna Semioli, a student at Montclair State University who is from Moonachie. She suffered massive internal injuries and remains in the hospital.

Choynowski told his attorney he had just pulled out of a McDonald's onto Route 46 in Clifton Thursday night of last week, on his way to his overnight job, and that's when he realized he hit something.

"Absolutely he knew that he hit something. He looked backwards, he didn't see anything on the roadway. He continued on, he panicked," said the attorney.

"He saw this in the news and he realized he was involved in this, and he felt horrible ever since," said Choynowski's attorney. "If he could trade places with her, he would in a minute."

"Was he drinking?" asked the reporter.

"Absolutely not," said the attorney.

After Semioli's family put the story out there and a witness came forward, saying the driver had a dark pickup truck, Choynowski -- who is an Eagle Scout -- was tortured, his attorney said. He has a dark pickup truck.

"Six days, though, is a long time that he had to wait to think about it," said his attorney. "If you've been in a situation like this, it can be very scary, it can be very traumatizing."

Choynowski didn't answer his door Friday. He is now charged with leaving the scene of an accident and is free on $30,000 bail.

Meanwhile, friends and family have not left Semioli's side while she's been in the hospital.