Road Rage Incident In South Brunswick Leads to Criminal Charges

An investigation into a recent crash involving a motorcycle and a car has resulted in one of the drivers being charged with aggravated assault.

Samantha Lawrence, 24, of North Brunswick surrendered Thursday night at South Brunswick Police Headquarters and was charged with third-degree aggravated assault. She faces up to five years in jail if convicted.

She was released on her own recognizance pending her first court appearance. The incident was investigated by Traffic Officer Jesse Blake and Detective Mike Pellino.

At 4:15 p.m., officers arrived at the intersection of Sandhill Road and Emerald Road and found the motorcyclist, Erik Schmitt, 22, had been thrown from his 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle onto the road, police said.

He was struck by a 2007 Pontiac driven by Lawrence, police said.

Schmitt was taken by paramedics and the Kendall Park First Aid Squad to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. He was admitted to the hospital for treatment of a concussion and road rash. He was released after two days.

Witnesses reported that the motorcycle and car were crossing over double yellow lines on Sandhill Road and passing motor vehicles as they headed westbound. The witnesses indicated the motorcycle was in front with the Pontiac directly behind it. Witnesses also said the motorcycle was slowing on Sandhill Road when the Pontiac rear ended it and Schmitt was ejected, police said.

Investigators were able to reconstruct the crash and piece together witnesses’ statements to determine the crash was no accident:

Schmitt and Lawrence had been involved in a road rage incident that started on Sandhill Road near Route 1. Schmitt was in front and believed that Lawrence was tailgating him. He motioned for her to back off at which time she passed him and skimmed the saddle bag on his motorcycle.

Lawrence proceeded down Sandhill Road and slowed to make a left turn. Schmitt pulled next to her and yelled at her while smacking her passenger’s side mirror. Schmitt continued westbound on Sandhill Road and Lawrence chased him in and out of traffic. As Schmitt attempted to turn off Sandhill Road, Lawrence struck his motorcycle.