LAKEWOOD, N.J. — A Lakewood man has been charged with aggravated assault after authorities say he barreled through a red light at 106 mph, slamming into a vehicle driven by an off-duty police officer early Saturday morning.
Edwin Ramirez-Carranza, 20, was behind the wheel of a Chevy Silverado when he allegedly ran the red signal at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Cedar Bridge Avenue around 12:10 a.m., striking a Honda Civic driven by a Lakewood Township Police Officer who had just ended his shift, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
The impact left the officer in critical condition at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, officials said. Ramirez-Carranza was also hospitalized but later released and transported to Ocean County Jail on Sunday, where he remains pending a detention hearing.
A joint investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad and Lakewood Township Police Department determined Ramirez-Carranza was traveling northbound on New Hampshire Avenue at approximately 106 miles per hour just seconds before the crash.
He ran a red light, striking the officer who was proceeding through the intersection on a green light.
The crash forced the Silverado into a drainage basin off the road while the Civic remained in the roadway. Both drivers were alone in their vehicles.
Probationary driver cited for slew of violations
Authorities executed a court-authorized blood draw on Ramirez-Carranza as part of the investigation. A search of his vehicle also turned up a quantity of marijuana, officials said.
In addition to the aggravated assault charge, Ramirez-Carranza was issued a long list of motor vehicle summonses, including operating an unregistered vehicle, careless and reckless driving, failure to observe a traffic signal, and multiple violations tied to his probationary driver’s license.
These include driving after 11 p.m., using a wireless device while driving, failure to display required decals, and possession of an unsealed cannabis container.
Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer credited the efforts of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit for their coordination in the investigation.
“The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” the Prosecutor’s Office stated.
Key Points
- Edwin Ramirez-Carranza allegedly ran a red light at 106 mph and struck a vehicle driven by an off-duty Lakewood police officer.
- The officer remains hospitalized in critical condition at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
- Ramirez-Carranza faces aggravated assault charges and numerous motor vehicle violations tied to his probationary license.
The off-duty officer was struck just minutes after ending his shift in a crash prosecutors say involved excessive speed and drug possession.