Dunellen Man, 27, Charged With Driving Into Another Man, 25, After Argument

DUNELLEN, NJ - A 27-year-old Dunellen man has been arrested and charged with intentionally driving his vehicle into a pedestrian who remains hospitalized, announced Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Dunellen Police Chief Jeffrey Nelson Thursday. Eric Locke, 27, of Dunellen was charged with aggravated assault; leaving the scene of a crash causing serious bodily injury, and failure to render aid to the victim, a 25-year-old man from South Bound Brook.

The victim, whose identity is being withheld at this time, remains hospitalized and is listed in critical condition. During the investigation it was determined that the victim was a passenger in Locke's vehicle, a 1999 Chevrolet Lumina, when the men became involved in a dispute.

The victim got out of the vehicle and was walking on Orange Street, near Columbia Park, when he was struck by the vehicle at 10:48 p.m. Wednesday, police said.

Locke fled the scene, but was located by police, who charged him with the assault.

Locke was charged during an investigation by Sgt. Jeff Del Buono of the Dunellen Police Department and Detective Donald Heck of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Wikimedia Commons image/ 29 January 2014/Author A. Bailey