Winslow Township NJ police arrested man who was allegedly behind the wheel of a car that struck a bicyclist.
According to law enforcement, the 41-year-old suspect was driving a 2003 Toyota Corolla in Winslow Township. Shortly after 5:30 p.m., the suspect struck a man who was riding a bicycle on the side of New Freedom Road.
Witnesses contacted local police and later told authorities that the suspect immediately fled the scene of the accident.
After the accident, the 27-year-old victim was flown by helicopter to Cooper University Hospital. There is no word yet on the extent of his injuries.
Winslow police investigated the incident and eventually discovered the suspect’s vehicle in the parking lot of a bar located near the accident scene. Officials said that the vehicle was easy to spot because it was badly damaged.
Police identified the suspect and placed him under arrest.
The suspect, who lives in Washington Township NJ, has been charged with a number of criminal offenses, including assault by auto, endangering an injured victim, and leaving the scene of an accident.
If the suspect is convicted on the assault by auto charges, he faces significant penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(c), a person can be charged with fourth degree assault by auto if they cause serious bodily injury while driving a vehicle recklessly. A conviction for a fourth degree felony in New Jersey is punishable by up to 18 months in NJ State Prison.
After being arrested and processed, the suspect was transported to the Camden County Jail. He is being held at the facility in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.
Meanwhile, Winslow Township police are continuing to investigate the accident. Anyone who witnessed the accident should contact investigators at 609-567-0700 ext. 1167.
For further information about this case, check out the NJ.com article entitled “Hit-and-Run Suspect Found at the Bar After Crashing into Bicyclist, Police Say.”