Slippery Roads, Crashes, and a Vehicle 'Used as a Weapon' in Princeton

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Princeton, NJ saw a surge in snow-related crashes in January, with 62 total motor vehicle incidents - the same as the previous month. While most were due to slippery conditions, one incident involved an alleged case of a driver using his vehicle "as a weapon" against another motorist.

Why it matters

The high number of crashes highlights the dangers of winter driving and the need for caution on icy roads. The alleged "weapon" incident also raises concerns about road rage and the potential for vehicles to be misused to intentionally harm others.

The details

The crashes ranged from drivers sliding off the road and into curbs, signs, and trees, to rear-end collisions and conflicts at school drop-off zones. One particularly notable incident involved a driver who allegedly swerved into another vehicle after the two had been engaged in a dispute over right-of-way. Witnesses described the maneuver as the driver using his car "as a weapon" against the other motorist.

• On January 17, there were multiple crashes on Cherry Hill Road and surrounding streets due to sudden snowfall.
• On January 18, there were several crashes across Princeton caused by slippery road conditions.
• On January 31, the alleged "vehicle as a weapon" incident occurred on Washington Road around 5:15 p.m.

What’s next

The judge in the case of the alleged "vehicle as a weapon" incident will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the driver out on bail.