Brick Man, 91, Charged In Hit-And-Run That Injured Landscaper

WALL, NJ — A 91-year-old Brick Township man has been charged in connection with a December hit-and-run that injured a landscaper on a riding lawnmower, Wall Township police said.

John Snyder of Brick has been charged with careless driving, reckless driving, failure to report a motor vehicle accident, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and failure to maintain lane in the Dec. 8 crash that injured a 34-year-old man from Neptune, police said.

The crash happened shortly before 11 a.m. on Ocean Road in Wall, police said.

The landscaper was operating the riding mower when he was hit by an SUV that was driving west on Ocean Road, police said. The landscaper was thrown from the mower and suffered a concussion and other non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said, and he was treated at an unspecified hospital.

The initial investigation found the SUV slowed down briefly before leaving the scene of the crash headed toward Baileys Corner Road, police said.

Police sought help from the public and after reviewing surveillance footage from homes and businesses in the area were able to track the vehicle through the Allenwood section of Wall and into Brick and Howell townships, police said.

In targeted canvassing of the area where the vehicle was last seen on camera, Patrolman Kyle Pelech found a 2023 Subaru Crosstrek in Brick that matched the "Cool-Gray Khaki" color and description of vehicle being sought, and it had partial damage to the hood, police said.

On Dec. 29, Wall Detective Sgt. Michael Tancredi and Detective Devin Corso spoke with Snyder, who told them at as he was driving home from an appointment he believed he had hit a "tan garbage can" on the side of the road.

Investigators confirmed the lawnmower being operated at the scene had a tan leaf collector box, consistent with the object Snyder believed he hit, police said.

Investigators also determined the Subaru had been repaired at a local auto body shop "for front-end damage consistent with the crash, including debris that was found lodged in the vehicle’s grill," police said.

Snyder was then charged, police said.

• Hit-And-Run Driver Sought By Wall Township Police
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