15-year-old accused of carjacking and running over victim at Somerset County gas station
BERNARDS TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – A 15-year-old has been charged in connection with a carjacking that occurred at a gas station in Bernards Township on Wednesday morning, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
On November 6, at around 11:35 a.m., police received a 9-1-1 call reporting a carjacking at a gas station located on Valley Road. Upon arrival, officers from the Bernards Township Police Department learned that the juvenile had assaulted the driver, a Bernards Township man, who was outside his vehicle putting air in the tires, McDonald said.
The juvenile struck the victim and then entered the vehicle. As the juvenile reversed the car, the victim and another individual, who had been attempting to prevent the carjacking, fell backward. The juvenile then accelerated forward, running over the victim, who had fallen to the ground, McDonald said.
The victim was trapped under the vehicle until gas station attendants were able to jack the car up, freeing the victim. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he underwent emergency lifesaving treatment for extensive injuries, McDonald said.
The 15-year-old juvenile was arrested and charged with first-degree carjacking, first-degree robbery, second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, third-degree possession of a weapon, fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and fourth-degree assault by auto, McDonald said.
The juvenile was lodged at the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center pending a court appearance, McDonald said.
