Man Left Scene Of Hazlet Accidents, Police Charge

HAZLET, N.J.— A Middletown man has been charged in connection with what began as a car accident on Route 36 and Laurel Avenue Friday night and then led to a police pursuit by car and on foot.

James E. Best III, 39, was charged by police with third-degree eluding, obstruction of justice, leaving the scene of an accident, and other motor vehicle violations, police said in a news release.

The accident took place at 7:05 p.m. June 17, police said, in which another vehicle was rear-ended. The driver of a white Chevy Colorado pickup with an enclosed trailer attached left the scene, police said in the news release.

A short time later, the truck then struck a pole in front of 575 South Laurel Ave. and continued to flee. Police said the trailer veered in the path of another vehicle that had to swerve and struck a fence. Moments later the pickup was spotted by Sgt. Robert Dickens as it made a left turn from Middle Road onto Laurel Avenue, police said.

Dickens activated his emergency lights and sirens but the pickup did not stop, police said.

It was then driven to the intersection of Middle Road and Palmer Avenue where the driver left the vehicle and fled on foot, police said.

Patrol officers were unable to locate the driver, but a follow up investigation was performed by Patrolman Cody Sachs and Patrolman Patrick Kiley, leading to the arrest of Best in connection with the incident. Middletown and Holmdel police departments assisted the investigation, police said.

There were no injuries reported from the incidents, police said.

Best was processed on the charges and released on a summons pending a future court date, police said.

The Hazlet Township Department of Public Works cleared the debris from Laurel Avenue, the news release said.