Video purporting to show cars racing to a Ferrari rally in Red Bank in 2010. (Warning: crude language. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
An explosive scandal alleging that New Jersey State Police led a high-speed caravan of luxury cars down the Garden State Parkway to Atlantic City last month took a twist Monday with the revelation of another such excursion in 2010.
That one, according to a report Monday by the Star-Ledger, involved a caravan of hot cars headed to a Ferrari car show in downtown Red Bank.
From NJ.com, the website of the Star-Ledger:
State officials have reacted with dismay to allegations that the New Jersey State Police led a high-speed caravan of sports carsto Atlantic City last month without regard for the safety of other drivers.
But it apparently it wasn’t the first time it has happened.
The State Police escorted another caravan of luxury sports cars down the Garden State Parkway in 2010 at speeds reportedly up to 120 mph, and it was all captured by two young men who happened upon the procession and then posted a harrowing video to YouTube.
“Get the camera out. Theyre being escorted by the New Jersey State Police!” one of the men, whose identities are unknown, said as they encountered the caravan. “Were being escorted by State Police. Oh my god. Timing is perfect … The State Police are cruising!”
The caravan, captured in five videos posted to the website June 28, 2010, was led by marked State Police cruiser #193 with its emergency lights flashing. Many of the cars in the caravan can be heard revving their engines and seen bursting forward at high speeds in and out and heavy traffic.
A spokesman for the State Police, Lt. Stephen Jones, did not immediately return a call and e-mail seeking comment on the escort and whether or not it was authorized.
The video ends with the videographer’s car running a red light past at State Police escort at exit 109 onto Newman Springs Road in Lincroft.
On Sunday, the Sledger reported that the State Police
are investigating complaints that two troopers escorted a caravan of luxury sports cars at speeds in excess of 100 mph down the Garden State Parkway to Atlantic City last month. The occupants included former Giants running back and sports car enthusiast Brandon Jacobs, according to a source with knowledge of the trip.
In the complaints, obtained by The Star-Ledger, witnesses said that in the early afternoon March 30, they saw two State Police patrol cars with their emergency lights flashing driving in front of and behind the southbound caravan, which included dozens of Porsches, Lamborghinis, Ferraris and other vehicles, all with their license plates covered with tape.
One witness, Wayne Gantt, dubbed the escort “Death Race 2012.”
