19-year-old hops on back of 18-wheel tanker truck.
By John Tredrea
Hopewell Township police say 19-year-old Derek Draney of Canterbury Lane, Clinton, indulged in a dangerous, not to mention illegal, way to get some excitement the night of Feb. 5.
He allegedly hopped onto the back of an 18-wheel tanker truck while it was southbound on Route 31. He was carrying a small amount of marijuana at the time, police added.
Capt. George Meyer said a motorist called police headquarters at 9:15 p.m. to report that a man was hanging onto the back of the tanker truck in front of the caller’s vehicle on Route 31.
"The caller said that, when the truck stopped for the light at Tree Farm Road, the man on the truck jumped off it and got into the passenger seat of a car that also had stopped for the light. The caller got the license plate of that car and gave it to us."
Patrolman Chris Vaccarino found the vehicle with that plate number, still on Route 31, and pulled it over near the Pennington Circle.
"It turns out that Mr. Draney had gotten out of the car in which he was a passenger and jumped onto the back of the truck while it was stopped at a previous red light," Capt. Meyer said.
Allegedly found in Mr. Draney’s possession was a plastic bag containing a small amount of what appeared to be marijuana. He was charged with disorderly conduct, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and riding on a portion of a vehicle not intended for use by passengers.
He was released on his own recognizance after being booked at police headquarters. The case will be heard in municipal court.