Woman charged after 150-mile chase on New Jersey Turnpike

A Bergen County woman held a passenger against her will during a 90-minute, 150-mile chase along the New Jersey Turnpike, at one point threatening to crash if troopers came any closer.

Jerry DeMarco

09/06/2009 9:49 p.m.

The 54-year-old captive called police on her cellphone from Jersey City last night, saying that Eleanor Valdenarro wouldn’t let her out of a blue Ford Explorer.

State troopers picked up the vehicle in Middlesex County and followed it south to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, where Valdenarro, 44, suddenly turned around and headed back north — while police stayed on the line.

A State Police helicopter soon joined the pursuit, during which police said Valdenarro pretty much stuck to the speed limit.

The chase continued all the way to Exit 14A, where Valdenarro pulled off and into the parking lot of Firestone Tire in Bayonne, where she was arrested, said NYSP Sgt. Stephen Jones.

Valdenarro is being held on $23,000 in the Hudson County Jail, charged with criminal restraint, making terroristic threats and eluding police.

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