15-Year-Old Carjacker Assaults, Runs Over Driver In Basking Ridge: PD

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — A 15-year-old was charged in connection carjacking where police say he assaulted and drove over the driver, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Bernards Township Police Chief Jon Burger announced.

On Wednesday at around 11:35 a.m., Bernards Township Police Department got a 911 call to go to a gas station located in the area of Valley Road.

Officers were told that a 15-year-old juvenile had tried to steal a vehicle after assaulting the driver (a Bernards Township adult male resident), who was outside of his vehicle putting air in his tires, said authorities.

The juvenile hit the driver and then got into the vehicle, said McDonald.

As the juvenile reversed the vehicle, the victim and another person — who were trying to gain control of the vehicle — fell backward.

The juvenile then accelerated forward, running over the victim who had fallen to the ground, said McDonald.

The victim was caught underneath the vehicle before it came to a stop.

Gas station attendants were able to help by jacking up the vehicle to allow the victim to be removed and he was taken to an area hospital to undergo emergency lifesaving treatment for his extensive injuries.

Detectives from the Bernards Township Police Department, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office (CART) Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team are investigating.

The 15-year-old juvenile was arrested and charged with first-degree carjacking, first-degree Robbery, 2nd degree aggravated assault, third-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, third-degree possession of a weapon, fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and fourth-degree assault by auto.

The juvenile was lodged in the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center pending a hearing in this matter.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Bernards Township Police Department at 908-766-1122 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smartphone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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