Police: Driver Attacks High School Student In Road-Rage Incident
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) — Police in South Jersey are looking for a suspect they say beat a high school student to the ground following a road-rage incident back in December.
It happened back on Dec. 14 around 10 p.m. on Bromley Boulevard near Hancock Lane in Burlington Township.
Police responded to Virtua Memorial Hospital where an 18-year-old man was being treated for several facial fractures that he sustained during a road rage incident.
Authorities said the victim inadvertently cut off the suspect while driving on Bromley Boulevard which prompted the attack.
"The victim explained to us that he was driving home from work that evening," Burlington Township Police Lt. James Sullivan told CBS 3's Cleve Bryan. "At some point, as he was driving along Bromley Boulevard in our town, he inadvertently cut off another vehicle."
Police said the man started tailgating the 18-year-old for about a quarter-mile. When he got out of his vehicle in his neighborhood, the suspect pulled over and punched him to the ground.
"Had a bit of an exchange of words and from what we understand it was one punch that struck the victim in the face and caused some significant fracturing in his face," Sullivan said.
The victim was treated and released and has since continued going to high school, but police have not been able to find his attacker.
"It's really unfortunate that this kind of thing has to happen," said Burlington Township resident Ron Stewart. "People have to be in control of their emotions at all times, so it doesn't become an issue."
The suspect is described as a white man, approximately 19 to 25 years old, stocky build, with a braided goatee and pony tail, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, grey sweatpants and flip flops. He was driving a blue Chrysler 300 with a chrome grill.
"If at any point someone feels as though their safety is being threatened by another motorist, pick up the phone and dial 911," Sullivan said. "We'd rather respond and mediate the issue than people taking it into their own hands."
Anybody with information regarding this investigation is asked to call police at 609-239-5865.
