February 24, 2023
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–A police car was totaled late Thursday night after a motorist ran into the back of it on Route 1. At 11:30 p.m., 17-year veteran Patrolman First Class Sean Roberts stopped a truck on Route 1 south near Raymond Road. PFC Roberts exited his patrol car and approached the passenger’s side of the truck. As he was speaking with the truck driver he heard screeching tires and a loud crash. He went to the rear of the truck and saw a vehicle had struck his patrol car and spun along the driver’s side of the truck. The vehicle a 2015 Volkswagen ended up in the lane of travel facing the wrong way with airbags deployed. PFC Roberts aided the driver and notified dispatch.An investigation determined that the driver of the Volkswagen, George Eckert age 47 of New Brunswick, had failed to stay in his lane and struck the rear of the 2018 Ford Explorer police vehicle that was on the shoulder of the highway. There were no injuries in the crash. Eckert was issued a careless driving summons.
Chief Raymond Hayducka said, “PFC Roberts followed his training and made a passenger-side approach on his car stop which prevented this from being much worse. We were lucky last night, a patrol car was destroyed but no one is injured. Drivers must pay attention and move over.”