A Middletown cop suffered a hand injury in a hit-and-run while he directed traffic on Route 35 Monday morning, police reported.
Patrolman Thomas Hughes was treated and released from Riverview Medical Center following the accident, which occurred at about 11:08 a.m. at the intersection of Pine Street following a traffic light outage, according to a department news release.
Police said Roland Eckstein, 80, of Pelican Road in the township, attempted to pass vehicles on the shoulder of the road when he struck Hughes, who was standing in the intersection.
Eckstein left the scene, but Red Bank police soon found him in the vicinity of Bodman Place. He was charged with assault with a motor vehicle.
The accident is being investigated by Sergeant Douglas Wiatrak of the traffic and safety Bureau.