NORTH CAPE MAY — Authorities say a 19-year-old East Orange man stole a car and fled the scene at more than 90 mph as its owner clung perilously to the roof.
Woodrow Gibson, who faces multiple felony charges in Lower Township, was arrested on unrelated charges in Bensalem, Pa., and was being held in the Bucks County Correctional Facility pending extradition.
According to a police report, at about 10:45 p.m. June 20, officers from the Lower Township Police Department observed a Ford Edge leaving the parking lot of the Wawa convenience store northbound on Bayshore Road at a high rate of speed with a man on top of the vehicle. Shortly after, another vehicle left the parking lot appearing to give chase to the Ford.
Officer Kevin Boyle Jr. pursued the vehicle with lights and siren activated. Officers following the speeding vehicles located them at the intersection of Bayshore and Fishing Creek roads, where they observed the second vehicle attempting to block the first vehicle.
The driver of the Ford, with the pedestrian still on top, then rammed into the second vehicle and resumed flight, authorities said.
While pursuing the fleeing vehicle from the scene of the crash, officers were informed of multiple 911 calls regarding a vehicle stolen from the convenience store.
Authorities said patrol units initiated pursuit, observing the Ford driving at speeds in excess of 90 mph with the pedestrian still atop the vehicle. Officers observed the driver of the stolen vehicle attempting to launch the man from the vehicle by aggressively swerving across both lanes of traffic. The vehicle turned right at Fulling Mill Road, thereby throwing the man from his vehicle.
Patrol units immediately terminated pursuit of the vehicle to render medical assistance to the man who had been thrown from the automobile. He later was identified as the owner of the stolen vehicle. A description of the driver was provided. The vehicle was observed by other patrol officers leaving Lower Township north on the Garden State Parkway.
Gibson was charged on a warrant with carjacking, robbery, aggravated assault, eluding, aggravated assault while eluding police, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, theft of means of conveyance, theft of moveable property and assault by auto.
The victim’s vehicle was later located in Camden and returned. Authorities did not identify him nor provide his medical condition.
Lower Township police recommend motorists not leave vehicles running unattended and always lock them when parked. Key fobs should never be left unattended in vehicles.
