Awoman with a 1-month-old infant in her vehicle led police on a highspeed chase through four Middlesex County towns last week before flipping her vehicle and crashing in East Windsor, according to police.
The pursuit started on Manalapan Road in Spotswood after Patrolman Les Genovese attempted to stop the 2000 Ford Explorer driven by Latonia Rollins, 40, of Irvington, for numerous motor vehicle violations, according to Spotswood police. Rollins allegedly would not stop, and instead led police west on a 7.5-mile pursuit through Helmetta, Jamesburg and Monroe.
According to Monroe police, Rollins traveled at a high rate of speed down Perrineville Road and onto Route 33. There, she attempted to turn right onto the state highway, but lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a marked Jamesburg police car.
After the collision, Rollins went over the highway median and began to travel west on Route 33 in the eastbound lanes. At that point, police stopped the pursuit, in the interest of public safety. State police then received calls about a vehicle traveling on its rims on Route 33 in East Windsor, and the Explorer was then found rolled over on the entrance to the New Jersey Turnpike, according to Monroe Police Detective Robert Bennett.
“We have no idea why she was running from police, or why she was in the area,” Bennett said. The baby, Heaven Gibson, was confirmed to be the woman’s daughter, he said. Also, Rollins’ driver’s license was found to be in good standing, and there were no warrants out for her arrest.
Both Rollins and the child were transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick following the accident, but police said their injuries were not life threatening.
Spotswood police charged Rollins with eluding police and endangering the welfare of a child, setting her bail at $7,500 with no 10 percent option. Monroe police charged her with aggravated assault, with bail at $50,000 and no 10 percent option. She also received several motor vehicle summonses, and police expected other charges to be filed by the other jurisdictions.