December
15, 2011
Office
of The Attorney General
-
Paula T. Dow, Attorney General
New
Jersey State Police
- Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent
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Media
Inquiries-
Public
Information Office
609-882-2000
Lt. Stephen Jones Ext. 6513
Sgt. Brian Polite Ext. 6514
Tpr I. Christopher Kay Ext. 6515
Citizen Inquiries-
609-292-4925 |
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Pennsville
Township, Salem County - On Thursday, December
15, 2011 at approximately 2:50 a.m., Troopers
assigned to the Woodstown State Police Barracks
attempted to stop a green, GMC Jimmy, for
a motor vehicle violation on I-295 southbound
in Pennsville Twp, Salem County. The driver
of the vehicle, Caleb Harris, 19, Camden,
disregarded Trooper’s attempt to stop
the vehicle and exited onto Route 49 eastbound
at Exit #2. The driver then continued on Rt.
49 eastbound, when he lost control of the
vehicle and crashed into a tree. The vehicle
sustained extensive damage on the passenger
side and burst into flames. The Troopers immediately
pulled Harris from the vehicle to safety.
They then attempted to remove the passenger
from the vehicle, but were unsuccessful because
he was entrapped in the damaged vehicle.
Troopers
and responding Emergency Medical Services
personnel attempted to douse the flames
with fire extinguishers, but were unable
due to the intensity of the fire. The Pennsville
Fire Department arrived and was finally
able to extinguish the fire. The passenger
was pulled from the vehicle, but was pronounced
at the scene. Authorities are attempting
to identify the passenger.
Caleb
Harris was arrested and transported to Cooper
Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening
injuries. Harris has been charged with the
following:
- Driving
while Intoxicated
- Operating
a motor vehicle with a suspended driver's
license causing a death (3rd degree)
- Aggravated
Manslaughter (1st degree)
- Death
by Auto (1st degree)
- Eluding
(2nd degree)
Harris
will be interviewed in an attempt to determine
why he made the decision to disregard the
Troopers initial attempt to pull him over.
Harris’
bail has been set at $500,000.00 (full cash
bail) and he will be lodged at the Salem
County Jail pending his release from Cooper
Hospital. No Troopers or other drivers were
injured as a result of this incident.
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