Lacey NJ Woman Allegedly Tried to Cover Up Hit-and-Run Accident in McDonald’s Parking Lot
Police recently arrested a woman who allegedly tried to cover up her involvement in a hit-and-run accident in Lacey Township, New Jersey.
The accident occurred around 12:15 p.m. on September 26, 2016. The woman was reportedly behind the wheel of a black 2005 Mazda 3 and pulling out of a McDonald's located on Route 9 in the Lanoka Harbor area of Lacey NJ when she allegedly crashed into a car in the parking lot.
After striking the other vehicle, the driver of the Mazda reportedly drove off without stopping. It was difficult for anyone to see the driver of the Mazda because the vehicle had tinted windows.
The owner of the car that got hit notified local law enforcement, which dispatched patrol officers to the McDonald's parking lot to investigate. Remarkably, the Lacey cops caught a pretty big break in the investigation when they reportedly found the front license plate of the Mazda, which had fallen off the car during the collision.
While authorities worked to track down the driver, she was allegedly working on her plan to get out of having to accept responsibility for the car crash. The suspect is believed to have realized that her license plate was missing, prompting her to contact law enforcement to report the license plate as stolen. At this point, Lacey Township detectives were involved in the investigation and they quickly deduced that the suspect may have filed a false police report in order to cover her tracks and avoid being criminally charged for leaving the scene of an accident.
The suspect is a 45-year-old woman who lives in Forked River, a community located within Lacey Township in Ocean County. She has been charged with filing a false report to law enforcement authorities and leaving the scene of an accident. She was also cited for numerous traffic offenses, including failure to report an accident.
In addition to facing significant penalties that could potentially include jail time and loss of her driver's license, the suspect may also be liable for damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
For additional information, view the NJ.com article, “Woman Tried to Evade Hit-and-Run Charges by Reporting Plate Stolen, Cops Say.â€
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in an auto accident in New Jersey, you should make sure you speak with a qualified personal injury lawyer before making any final decisions about how to proceed. The experienced personal injury and auto accident lawyers at Lombardi & Lombardi can help you get compensated for your injuries. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation at one of our offices in Edison, Brick, or Freehold, New Jersey.