Timothy Puskas, 40, pled to second-degree vehicular homicide, admitting he was driving the vehicle that killed Leonel Lopez Hernandez, 26, of New Brunswick on Jan. 25, 2012. Watch video
NEW BRUNSWICK - A suspect in last year's brutal beating death of Kean University student William McCaw pleaded guilty Monday to a 2012 vehicle death of a man riding a bicycle.
Timothy Puskas, 40, admitting he was driving the vehicle that killed Leonel Lopez Hernandez, 26, of New Brunswick on Jan. 25, 2012.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey said Puskas has admitted he was driving recklessly when he struck and killed Hernandez. Puskas pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide.
Hernandez, a husband and father of two young children, was riding his bike home from Bristol-Myers Squibb, where he worked as a custodian.
PREVIOUSLY: New Brunswick man denies killing Kean student
The investigation determined that Puskas was driving a 1998 Toyota 4Runner on Georges Road and heading toward North Brunswick when he crossed into the oncoming traffic lane and struck Hernandez, who was on the side of the road near the South Talmadge Street intersection.
Hernandez died at the scene.
Under a plea agreement, Puskas will be sentenced to eight years in prison. In addition, he will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison term before becoming eligible for parole, the prosecutor said.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 14.
A co-defendant, Stephen Gallo, 38, of Milltown, previously pleaded guilty to a charge of hindering the apprehension of Puskas by helping hide the Toyota 4Runner, the prosecutor said.
Gallo, who was a passenger in the Toyota, is expected to serve five years' probation.
In May, Puskas was indicted in the Feb. 15, 2014 death of McCaw, a former Rutgers University student who transferred to Kean University in September 2013, but returned often to New Brunswick.
Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Sheree Pitchford stated during a court hearing last May that McCaw was "in the city visiting friends, going from place to place, when he came upon this defendant."
"He was attacked by this individual," Pitchford said. "He was attacked and left on the streets of New Brunswick to die."
In addition to murder, Puskas is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and two counts of hindering his own apprehension or prosecution.
Puskas was arrested for McCaw's murder in March 2014.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.