At 11:35 a.m., officers responded to o a gas station located in the area of Valley Road and found the teenager had tried to take possession of a vehicle after assaulting the driver, a Bernards Township man, who was putting air in his tires, Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Bernards Township Police Chief Jon Burger said.
The juvenile struck the victim and then entered the vehicle, authorities said.. As the juvenile reversed the vehicle, the victim and another individual who were attempting to gain control of the vehicle fell backwards, authorities said. The juvenile then accelerated forward, running over the victim who had fallen to the ground, authorities said. The victim was caught underneath the vehicle before it came to a stop, authorities said.
Gas station attendants were able to assist by jacking up the vehicle to allow the victim to be removed and he was taken to an area hospital to undergo emergency lifesaving treatment for his extensive injuries, authorities said.
The juvenile was charged with carjacking, robbery, assault by auto among numerous other offenses.
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