Driver Sought In Toms River Hit-Run Turns Himself In

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A man who was being sought by police in New Jersey following a hit-and-run accident and an alleged attempt to mow down an off-duty police officer has turned himself in.

According to authorities, 54-year-old Robert Dechert called police Monday morning after reading news stories that said he was wanted in Toms River.

Around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, police said Dechert was driving east on Route 37 in Toms River when he hit another vehicle and fled the scene. The bumper and license plate from Dechert's car were left behind.

Seaside Heights Police Officer Erik Hershey, who was off-duty but in uniform, witnessed the crash and followed Dechert to a restaurant where he parked, police said.

When Hershey approached the car, police said Dechert accelerated rapidly at the officer and tried to hit him. Hershey was able to jump out of the way and Dechert fled the wrong way on Route 37, authorities said.

Dechert, of Lakehurst, faces charges of attempted murder by vehicle and numerous motor vehicle violations. Bail was set at $500,000.

Check Out These Other Stories From CBSNewYork.com:

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.