Fleeing suspect leaves car on tracks
BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer

RED BANK - NJ Transit rail service in Red Bank was disrupted for more than an hour when a vehicle, which belonged to a suspect who eluded police, was removed from the railway, according to the Red Bank Police Department.

DiegoAlpizar-Fernandez, a 23-year-old Farmingdale man, allegedly eluded police in Red Bank March 19 after fleeing from his car when it became stuck on the railroad tracks, according to police.

Alpizar-Fernandez was arrested on Broad Street near the intersection of Pinckney Road and was charged with eluding a police officer and numerous motor vehicle offenses, according to a police department press release.

While on patrol at 4:45 a.m. Red Bank Police Detective Robert Clayton observed a vehicle go through a red traffic light at the intersection of Broad Street and Harding Road, according to the release. Clayton activated his emergency lights, signaling for the driver, who was later identified as Alpizar-Fernandez, to pull over. The vehicle began to pull to the curb and then abruptly accelerated.

Clayton pursued the vehicle, which traveled downWaverly Place toMapleAvenue, according to police.

Upon reaching the intersection of Maple Avenue and Broad Street, the vehicle then turned onto the NJ Transit tracks, driving on the rail bed between the east- and west-bound tracks for about 100 yards. The vehicle became stuck, and Alpizar-Fernandez jumped from the car and fled on foot, according to police.

About one hour later, Alpizar-Fernandez was arrested by Patrolman George Travostino on Broad Street near the intersection of Pinckney Road.

In addition to the charge of eluding a police officer, Alpizar-Fernandez was charged with two counts of failure to observe a signal, failure to stop, reckless driving and unlicensed driver, according to the press release.

Alpizar-Fernandez's bail was set at $20,000, and he is currently being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township.