Trevon Smith was captured in the DR more than three years after the crash that killed Adi Castillo

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

A Newark man who investigators say fled the country after a deadly 2022 hit-and-run in Elizabeth has been captured overseas and returned to the United States, Union County officials said.

Trevon Smith, age 27, was arrested on Dec. 1, in the Dominican Republic for his connection to the crash on Oct. 8, 2022, that left Adi Taipe-Castillo dead, Elizabeth, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel, Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca and Elizabeth Police Director Earl Graves said.

Taipe-Castillo, 30 of Roselle, was struck and killed by a Jeep speeding toward Newark as he was leaving Nugents Tavern on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022 near 844 Newark Ave., police said at the time. Officers responded at approximately 2:47 a.m. to the area of Newark Avenue and Durant Avenue and found Taipe-Castillo, who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to investigators.

The investigation by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force and the Elizabeth Police Department identified Smith as the driver, who fled the country shortly after the crash, officials said.

Smith was taken into custody in the Dominican Republic and was extradited to the United States, where he was lodged at the Essex County Jail pending his next court appearance, officials said.

He is charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and third-degree hindering prosecution.

Anyone with information should contact Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force Sergeant Nicholas Falciccio at 908-721-8186 or Elizabeth Police Detective James Lugardo at 732-967-4064.