Three teens were hurt and a 30-year-old man faces hit-and-run charges in Cumberland County, after he struck them on the shoulder of Main Street in the Cedarville section of Lawrence Township Saturday night, police said Sunday.
Eric Rodriguez was driving north on two-lane County Route 533 at about 7 p.m., when his Jeep SUV veered onto the right shoulder of the two-lane road near mile post 12, according to Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police, which patrols the township.
The Jeep struck three male pedestrians: a 17-year-old who suffered serious injuries; a 15-year-old who suffered “moderate” injuries; and another 15-year-old who suffered minor injuries, Lebron said. He said the three were taken to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries, which weren’t specified.
“After the impact, Rodriguez fled the scene prior to the trooper’s arrival,” Lebron said in a statement. “Through various investigative means, Rodriguez was identified as the operator of the Jeep and was subsequently arrested.”
Rodriguez, who lives in the Cedarville section, was charged with three counts of assault by auto and two counts of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving serious bodily injury. He was released pending a court date, Lebron said.
Eric Rodriguez has a Main Street address in the township but not a listed phone number, and he could not be reached.
The incident remained under investigation Sunday, Lebron said.
