By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Police charged a 19-year-old Rutgers University student that they believe struck a South Brunswick High School sophomore with her vehicle Friday morning.
Shivangi Patel, 19, of Monmouth Junction was arrested around 2 p.m. outside her home just a couple blocks away from the high school on Stouts Lane, Sgt. James Ryan said Friday evening.
According to police, Ms. Patel struck a 15-year-old female sophomore while in a crosswalk in the school driveway about 7:25 a.m. Friday.
Witnesses told police that a black sedan, later identified as a 2009 Nissan Altima, hit the student and then left the scene in the direction of First Avenue in Monmouth Junction.
The impact threw the sophomore onto the hood and into the windshield of the Altima, leaving “a vast” hole in the windshield on the passenger side, Sgt. Ryan said.
“There is no doubt it was her car (involved),” Sgt. Ryan said.
Sgt. Ryan said that Ms. Patel allegedly left the scene of the accident and drove the vehicle back to her home a short distance away.
She then contacted her father to drive her back to the high school so she could conduct a scheduled classroom observation for classes she was taking at Rutgers University, Sgt. Ryan said.
Sgt. Ryan said records at the school show Ms. Patel signing in at 7:58 a.m. and staying until just after 11 a.m. even as police scoured the area around the school looking for the driver involved in the accident.
The victim was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick where she was treated for a severe concussion and a fractured clavicle. Sgt. Ryan said she was expected to be released later Friday.
Ms. Patel is charged with leaving the scene of accident with serious injuries, endangering the welfare of an injured victim and numerous motor vehicle violations, police said.
She was released after posting $2,500 bail, Sgt. Ryan said.
The arrest came after police launched a massive investigation in the area around the school to find the vehicle and the driver.
“We have talked to numerous witnesses and we have video (from the school),” Sgt. Ryan said as the investigation proceeded Friday afternoon. “We hope the person comes forward to explain the incident to us.”
Sgt. Ken Drost of the Traffic Division led the investigation and took parts of the vehicle left at the scene to the Acme Nissan car dealership on Route 130 where they were able to pinpoint the model car they were looking for.
“It was a real collaboration. Acme was a huge assistant (in the investigation),” Sgt. Ryan said. “It was a lot of work and effort (to get the arrest).”
Another assistant in the investigation came in the form of a traffic study conducted in the past by the department that shows most people driving to the high school living only blocks away.
“The study shows the majority live within blocks of the school,” Sgt. Ryan said. “We suspected that they wouldn’t be that far away.”
Chief Raymond Hayducka praised the efforts of Sgt. Drost and other officers working on the case.
"This driver ran down this student as she was only feet from the school. Sgt. Ken Drost was determined to track this driver down,” Chief Hayducka said. “He showed tremendous determination in piecing together all aspects of this crash investigation and locating the driver. His efforts reflect the best of our agency".
Earlier in the day, Principal Tim Matheney sent an email to parents to make them aware of the incident and let them know what the school and police were doing.
"In response to the situation, a team of officers from the South Brunswick Police Department and high school administration have been collaborating on a very aggressive investigation throughout the day," Mr. Matheney’s email stated. "Police and administrators have interviewed a number of eyewitnesses, and our surveillance camera footage has been reviewed."
Mr. Matheney stressed that drivers around the school need to be aware of the students and he offered the following guidelines to drivers:
· It is imperative that drivers observe the posted speed limit of 15 mph.
· It is imperative that drivers avoid distracted driving (no texting, etc.) on campus and whenever operating their vehicles.
· It is imperative that drivers — especially at drop-off and pick-up times — be observant especially when approaching crosswalks.
Despite making traffic and student pedestrian issues a priority throughout the year, Mr. Matheney said in the email that a team from the school and members of the police department would be reviewing traffic policies again in light of the incident.
Sgt. Ryan said the father of the driver may have known about the incident and the investigation is continuing, but no other charges have been filed at this time.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact the South Brunswick Police Department at 732-329-4646 or Principal Matheney at 732-329-4044 ext. 5202.