Wall police: 91-year-old Brick man ID’d as driver in Ocean Road December hit-and-run
The search for the driver went on for weeks after the crash left the landscaper injured.
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Shocking video shows an SUV slam into a lawnmower, throwing the rider off, and then drive away. Police now say the man behind the wheel is 91 years old.
The search for the driver went on for weeks after the crash left the landscaper injured.
“Maybe you thought it was a garbage can but it was actually someone on a lawnmower?" a detective asked during questioning.
"Oh no. Not possible,” said 91-year-old Brick Township resident John Snyder.
A neighbor's security camera captured the collision back on Dec. 8 on Ocean Road.
Neighbor Gina Blakeslee lives next door to where it happened.
“The guy could have been really seriously injured. I do think at a certain age, we need to keep an eye on our elderly and their driving,” said Blakeslee.
Police tell News 12 that it was a combination of factors: the video itself, tips from the public and some old-fashioned detective work that led them to who they believe was the driver at his home in Brick.
“It was a large tan trash can and that’s all. And that was knocked over. And two metal things came out, which weren’t that big. And I looked all around...nobody was around,” said Snyder during questioning.
Wall Police Chief Sean O’Halloran says this incident is a reminder of a tough conversation for which many people need to prepare.
“We submitted this person for re-evaluation to the Department of Motor Vehicles. People should be concerned with their loved ones, friends, to make sure they are capable of operating a motor vehicle in a manner in which they are safe to protect everyone on the roadway,” said O’Halloran.
“This is just the beginning of an ongoing problem we have on Ocean Road, speeding traffic, deer, people need to slow down and be more present when they’re driving across the board,” said Blakeslee.
The 91-year-old now faces numerous charges, including leaving the scene of an accident with injuries. The victim has since returned to work with the landscaping company.
