Verdict Is In: Atlantic City, NJ, Fatal Crash Involving Death

It may be the break of a lifetime, or, it could be right back to the drawing board.

The trial of Harris L. Jacobs has just ended with an Atlantic County, New Jersey jury not being able to reach a unanimous verdict … otherwise known as a “Hung Jury.”

Jacobs was facing a serious 2nd degree charge of leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash resulting in the death of Orlando Fraga, from Atlantic City, New Jersey.

At the time of the incident, nearly 3 years ago … The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office alleged Jacobs struck and killed Fraga, a 76-year-old man from Atlantic City, saying:

On Sunday, September 4, 2022, at approximately 3:35 A.M. on the 1800 block of Atlantic Avenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey, while operating a white 2016 Toyota 4 Runner," (the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a prepared statement) at 9:35 p.m. on Monday, September 4, 2022, 18 hours after the fatal crash.

The jury has had the case since last Thursday, May 1, 2025, in the late afternoon.

They have deliberated ever since and were unable to arrive at a unanimous verdict.

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Christine Smith presided over the case.

The jury appeared to be deadlocked from the beginning of deliberations.

Judge Smith gave the jury late last Thursday, Friday, Monday and the early part of today to try and come to a unanimous decision.

In the 10:00 a.m. hour this morning, Judge Smith declared that the jury was unable to reach a decision.

Judge Smith thanked the jurors for their service and dismissed the jury.

Now, the ball is back in the court of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, who will have to make a decision whether or not to retry Jacob’s all over again.

I am reporting the moment the jury verdict was reached.

I will add a comment from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office immediately upon receipt of same.

Here is a link (directly below) to our earlier coverage, when this matter appeared to be heading towards a Hung Jury.

Read More: Atlantic City, NJ, Fatal Crash Trial May End With a Hung Jury

It appears as though the expert witness testimony of Dr. Gary Glass, a highly respected psychiatrist … may have won over at least one juror, perhaps more.