(BRICK, N.J.) — An unidentified individual was seen speeding away from a school on Lanes Mill Road during the first week back.
The individual who was seen speeding was allegedly chased by several police officers after driving through a crosswalk while a crossing guard was present. This incident occurred before the Brick Township Council Meeting was set to do a final vote on lowering the speed limit on Lanes Mill Road.
A Brick resident, Kim Winits, spoke to OpGov.News about her experience on the early morning of September 8.
Winits first explained that there is always a police officer who stands watch by the Brick American Baseball League field across from Brick Memorial High School. The officer went to the front of the school and to the drop-off line to speak with an individual in the line.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
After the officer finished speaking with the driver and walked away, the car sped up, “swerving into the lane,” and did not stop at the crossing guard who had a stop sign up. Winits recalled that the driver almost hit the crossing guard, then continued speeding down Lanes Mill Road. Afterward, the officer who had previously spoken to the driver of the vehicle got into their car and followed them.
“There were so many cops everywhere coming from every direction trying to go after this car,” Winits said.
Winits explained that the driver ended up parking in a driveway. It is unclear at this time if an arrest has been made.
“All I could think of is please don’t hit a child,” Winits said.
Before school started, law enforcement encouraged residents to slow down and pay attention in school zones in a Facebook post as school started back up this week.
The Brick Township Police Department urged residents to drive slowly and stay alert while driving in school zones. The BTPD stated that school zones are “high-risk areas where children, parents, and crossing guards are present.”
Photo Credit: BTPD Facebook
Furthermore, the BTPD also warned drivers that tickets will be issued to individuals who violate traffic laws within school zones.
Over the next couple of weeks, the BTPD and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office will be “actively saturating school zones” throughout Brick Township.
“This is not just about enforcement—it is about prevention,” the BTPD said, “Every driver has a responsibility to help ensure that students get to and from school safely.”
This comes after the Brick Township Council did a preliminary vote on an ordinance set to reduce the speed limit on Lanes Mill Road from 40 to 35 miles per hour. The residents raised concerns about the lack of police presence during the August 18 meeting. The reduced speed limit ordinance is scheduled for a final vote at the September 8 meeting.
The reduced speed ordinance was created after Jackson Mueller, 15, was fatally struck by a car going nearly 80 mph during the last school year.
This is an ongoing story; OpGov.News will update as information becomes available.
To add to or correct any information in this report or to share tips or a story, please contact me at alexis.n@lead4earth.org.
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