Cops: Man Steals Truck, Causes Seven Accidents

A North Brunswick man was charged with stealing a landscaping truck and causing seven motor vehicle accidents in his effort to flee from authorities on Tuesday.

Michael Taylor, 25, was charged with burglary, theft, criminal mischief, eluding, driving under the influence, assault by auto, and aggravated assault by both the South Brunswick and North Brunswick police departments for a series of alleged crimes on Tuesday.

At 9:15 a.m. on Oct. 1, police were alerted to an auto theft where a man stole a landscaping truck and trailer from Jones Drive off Route 27. Police said Taylor allegedly used a shovel to smash the driver’s side window of the truck to gain entry before driving off with the trailer still attached.

Police were then alerted by a passing motorist to the stolen vehicle driving erratically on Route 1 north. Officer Michael Urstadt attempted to stop the truck as it turned off of Route 1 onto Adams Lane. 

Police said Taylor disregarded the officer, as he continued to drive towards Route 130. Officer Urstadt backed off in his attempt to pull Taylor over as they headed into a construction zone on Route 130 at Adams Lane, according to police.

Soon thereafter, police said Taylor crashed the truck into the divider on Route 1 and College Farm Road, causing materials from the trailer to spill all over the roadway, causing a temporary closure of Route 1. In total, police said Taylor was responsible for seven motor vehicle accidents in North Brunswick.

Following the crash, Taylor then fled on foot across the highway into a nearby field adjacent to DeVry University. North Brunswick officers arrived at the scene and apprehended Taylor in the field.

Taylor was taken to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries suffered in the crash before being turned over to authorities. A subsequent investigation revealed that Taylor was allegedly “smoking drugs” before he attempted to get into several vehicles in the apartment complex on Jones Drive, police said.

Taylor is currently being lodged in the Middlesex County Correction Center.