Man Charged For Running Over East Brunswick Bicyclist, Injuring South Brunswick Officer

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — A North Brunswick man was arrested in connection to a series of crashes that left an East Brunswick bicyclist and a South Brunswick police officer injured Thursday afternoon, South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said Friday.

At 1:29 p.m., a 40-year-old East Brunswick bicyclist was riding on Route 522, crossing over Route 130 to Fresh Ponds Road. At the same time, a 2017 Ford passenger van driven by Ankur Khajuriwala, 41, of North Brunswick made a left turn from Route 522 onto Route 130, and ran over the bicyclist, Hayducka said.

The van did not stop and headed north on Route 130. Officer Joseph Marrero of the South Brunswick Police Department, witnessed the incident and headed on Route 130 north to locate the van that had fled, Hayducka said.

As he headed north, traffic began to slow and his SUV left the road and hit a berm which sent the vehicle airborne. The SUV then struck a sign and a utility pole before coming to rest in a parking lot.

The Monmouth Junction Fire Department responded to the scene and freed Marrero from the vehicle, Hayducka said.

South Brunswick EMS and paramedics then transported Marrero to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, while Monroe EMS took the bicyclist to the same hospital. Both the officer and bicyclist were released from the hospital late Thursday evening, according to Hayducka.

The bicyclist was able to provide officers with a partial license plate of the van that struck him. Police dispatchers then found that the van came back to Rainbow Home Adult Day Care in Somerset.

After making contact with the business, Khajuriwala returned to the scene. According to the investigation, Khajuriwala knew he struck something yet continued to drive north. A few minutes later he realized he was headed in the wrong direction and traveled south on Route 130 passing both the crash involving the officer and the bicyclist who was struck, Hayducka said.

Khajuriwala was arrested and charged with endangering an injured victim, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, and several other motor vehicle offenses. Additionally, Rainbow Home Adult Day Care was cited for having an unregistered vehicle and improperly licensed driver using their vehicle.

"We were very lucky today. When you see the police vehicle and hear from witnesses who saw the bicyclist run over, you realize it is a miracle," said Hayducka.

"The bicyclist had amazing composure even after being struck to remember the majority of the license plate number. I am thankful that everyone was released from the hospital, but aggravated at the conduct of the driver who started everything."

South Brunswick Police Sergeant William Merkler is leading the investigator. Anyone with information is asked to call him at (732) 329-4646.

South Brunswick Police thanked the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and Franklin Township Police for their assistance in the case.

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