Posted on 04/14/2007 11:09:02 PM PDT by dennisw
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- State Police have declined to charge the 20-year-old driver of a pickup truck for leaving the scene of a crash that critically injured Gov. Jon Corzine this week after the man told investigators he was trying to make room for the governor's motorcade. However, authorities left open the possibility the driver could face other charges in the coming days, saying the investigation is not complete. State Police still want to interview Corzine, who remained on a ventilator Saturday, unable to speak.
Surgery on the governor's injured leg was successful Saturday, and another operation was planned for Monday.
The pickup truck driver, who is blamed for Thursday night's wreck, told investigators he didn't stop because he did not realize he was involved. The man's name was not released by state police because he was not charged.
"He hadn't any inkling that he contributed to it," New Jersey State Police Capt. Al Della Fave said. "That alleviates him of the responsibility of remaining at the accident scene. There's nothing he did here criminally. He did what he felt was the best he could."
Della Fave said the driver saw Corzine's motorcade with its flashing lights traveling in the left lane, and edged his pickup truck further to the right to give the official vehicles a wide berth
In so doing, the red pickup's right wheels went onto the grassy highway shoulder, alarming the driver. He looked up to see a highway mile marker sign directly in front of him, and steered hard to the left to avoid hitting it.
That brought the red pickup back onto the roadway and into the path of a white pickup truck, which also swerved to the left to avoid the red truck. The white vehicle struck Corzine's sport utility vehicle, sending it careening into a guard rail.
The driver of the red truck was found Friday night at an Atlantic City casino where he works and interviewed by police. He was found using information from local police and leads generated from parkway surveillance cameras and toll information, police said.
The driver of the truck picked it up Saturday afternoon at the New Jersey State Police station in Buena Vista, but did not talk to the media.
At his home in Little Egg Harbor Township, a man who answered the door angrily ordered reporters to leave the property, and would not speak with them.
The driver could not be located Saturday night at the casino where he works.
Corzine had been on his way to a meeting at his mansion in Princeton between radio show host Don Imus and the Rutgers women's basketball team.
The 60-year-old governor, who was not wearing his seat belt in the front passenger's seat, broke his leg, 12 ribs, his breastbone and suffered a broken collarbone. He also had a head laceration and a minor fracture on a lower vertebra
Can the police prevent him from speaking? The police must be afraid of something.
Good explanation. BTW, who were the drivers of the other two trucks?
I am starting to envision a wheelchair bound Corzine as a media prop, akin to the late Chris Reeves.
I doubt the media would use a pickup-not the right tool for the job. More likely they would have a van or SUV. But you’re right-the media was probably close behind.
I often refer to Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana as “Dodi and Di - the crash test dummies”.
The irony of racing to a photop with the Iman “victims” is too much. I guess our politicians really do risk everything for a camara.
Pray for W and Our Troops
Looks like the driver of the white PU and the police driver of the gov’s ride can’t drive at all. Now the gov will be a poster boy for the seat belt NAZIs.
This photo op could have been seen nation wide, portraying him as a racial healer and uniter.
You cant blame him for rushing to this meeting. Its rare that Al Sharpton gets a scalp in his jurisdiction. You need to get it while it’s hot.
I want to pretend I’m important, and run some plebes off the road.
The “Me and JFK” photo is the gold standard. You can commit treason, rape women, and kill people if you have that one on your desk. A must have credential for any serious politician.
Yeah, he was apparently speeding past the speeding motorcade, and passing it on the right.
“The man, who asked not to be named because State Police told him not to speak to the media, said both his vehicle and the SUV were going 65 mph, the posted speed limit on that part of the Parkway. The governor’s two-car motorcade was traveling with flashing lights on at the time of the crash.”
Hmmmmmmmmmmm Two or three little items.....
1. Why were the RED FLASHING LIGHTS necessary if the Govs motorcade were only traveling 65 on the interstate?
2. Why was the motorcade traveling in the LEFT lane if they were only going 65? ALL states have signs posted on the interstate which say something like “SLOWER DRIVERS KEEP RIGHT” The Gov would have been a “slower driver” if he was only going 65. It was the Interstate after all and there has been no mention of stop and go rush hour traffic etc.... Most drivers would have been speeding...(Faster than 65)
3. If the Gov was only going 65 the RED TRUCK would have witnessed the accident. He was right there. However at a high rate of speed which would take the Gov rapidly further on down the road before the final stopping point after impact, the red truck may not have realized he had anything to do with it He either had to pull up when the traffic slowed down and stopped for the accident, or he was able to continue on pass the wreck.
BIG question about the red truck...
How do you NOT notice that an accident has occured near you?....
When it happens behind you in your blind spot. They are lying; the SUV was speeding.
Yes. Every sailor understands the concept of relative speed. Drivers should too.
Is Corzine going to be ticketed for not wearing his seatbelt?
Oh pluueezz, and he was supposed to say “ well officer, I was going going at least 25 miles over the limit when YOUR BOSS passed me”
and sort of off topic, but why did the governor have a two-car motorcade going to Imus? was the 2nd car behind or in front?
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