Union Co. Man Accused Of Running Over Woman With SUV Arrested: Prosecutors

UNION COUNTY, NJ — An Elizabeth man was charged after running over and severely injuring a local woman in a road rage incident, according to the Union County Prosecutor's Office.

Vincent Jean, 56, was charged with first-degree attempted murder after running over a 23-year-old woman multiple times with his SUV following a minor car accident between the two, officials said.

Elizabeth Police discovered the woman lying on the front lawn of a residence on Salem Avenue, suffering from numerous severe injuries, at around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, officials said. She was then rushed to University Hospital in critical condition.

According to prosecutors, witnesses at the scene said the woman, and a man who was driving a silver Mitsubishi SUV, were involved in a minor car accident in the area. After the accident, the man attempted to flee the scene, and the woman, who was standing on the sidewalk, tried to take photos of the man's car to identify him to the police.

Prosecutors said at that point, the man drove onto the lawn and hit the woman, then drove over her before backing up and deliberately running her over a second time.

The man then fled the area in his SUV. Later that morning, Elizabeth Patrol Officers found Jean sitting along in the driver's seat of his parked, damaged SUV on Jefferson Avenue.

Jean was also charged with second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, third-degree assault by auto, third-degree leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident with serious bodily injury, third-degree endangering an injured victim and third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

He was then charged, arrested and remains at Union County Jail pending a court appearance.

Anyone with further information about this incident is being urged to contact Elizabeth Police Detective Thomas Koczur at 908-358-9675 or Detective Edward Benenati at 908-328-6972.