By Karen E. Viereck Editor/Publisher
SWEDESBORO — According to information supplied by Woolwich Twp. Lt. Joseph A. Morgan, at 9:30 p.m. Logan Township Police were dispatched to a 911 call for an erratic driver in a Volkswagen Jetta, traveling east on Center Square Road towards Woolwich. At 9:43 Woolwich Sgt. Joseph Rieger and Ptl. Christopher Beckett observed the vehicle approaching the roundabout at Kings Highway. Beckett was able to put his car directly behind the suspect, while going around the roundabout. The Volkswagen exited the roundabout, traveling north on Kings Highway. While directly behind the vehicle, and in front of Spirit Dodge, he activated his lights and sirens. The vehicle responded by hitting its brakes and slowing to approximately 9 miles per hour. Beckett thought he was looking for a safe place to pull over. The vehicle traveled at a slow rate of speed until Bridgeport Road, when it accelerated back to the speed limit of 30 mile per hour. At Mechanic Street at approximately 9:44.46, the vehicle began to accelerate rapidly. The vehicle continued to accelerate for approximately 20 seconds, to its high speed of approximately 80 miles per hour, leaving Beckett a distance behind. At 9:45.06 the vehicle passed through a green traffic light at the intersection of Kings Highway and Lake Avenue. As the vehicle passed Railroad Avenue, it lost control and began skidding sideways. At 9:45.14 the vehicle collided with an unoccupied vehicle in the southbound shoulder, before coming to rest on the sidewalk in front of Botto’s.
At 9:45.22 Beckett pulled up to the crash scene and immediately relayed the accident to dispatch and called for an ambulance. He exited the car and observed the male driver attempting to exit the vehicle and flee. At gunpoint, Beckett was able to apprehend the drive and provide immediate medical attention. The driver, a 14-year-old Hispanic male, was not seriously injured but taken to Crozer Hospital.
The driver allegedly took his father’s vehicle without permission and was issued five motor vehicle summonses.
