Man Carjacked, Strangled Woman At Crash Scene In Camden Co.: Prosecutor

WATERFORD, NJ — Two U.S. military members were among the good samaritans who rescued a woman getting assaulted during a carjacking on Thursday in Waterford Township, authorities said.

The events unfolded just after 8:30 a.m., when a driver crashed on Jackson Road near Waverly Avenue, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

The driver — later identified as Rondean McDonald — then forced his way into a passing vehicle that wasn't involved in the accident, authorities said.

McDonald ripped open the locked passenger-side door, entered the vehicle and demanded to be driven out of the area, prosecutors said. When the victim refused, McDonald began strangling her, according to law enforcement.

Two men — both members of the U.S. Army Reserves at Ford Dix, including one who is also a Philadelphia police officer — noticed the assault while passing by and intervened. One of them broke a window on the victim's vehicle so remove the suspect, authorities said.

Additional people in the area stopped to help and called 911. The good samaritans restrained McDonald at the scene until police arrived.

The victim was brought to Virtua Voorhees Hospital, where she was reported in stable condition, officials said at noon Friday.

McDonald, 45, of Mays Landing, was driven to the Virtua Emergency Department in Berlin. He was later placed in the Camden County Correctional Facility, where he will remain jailed, pending the results of a detention hearing.

He was charged with carjacking (first-degree), kidnapping (first-degree), aggravated assault (second-degree) and criminal mischief (fourth-degree).

Attorney information for McDonald was unavailable in online court records as of Friday afternoon.

Anyone with information can contact Det. Kristen Blantz of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office at 856-225-8642 and Sgt. Michael Hackman of the Waterford Township Police Department at 856-767-2134 ext. 245. Tips can also be sent to CAMDEN.TIPS.