South Jersey Man Crashed Into River, Left Girlfriend To Die: BCPO

A New Jersey man plunged his car into the Delaware River this weekend and fled the scene, leaving his girlfriend to die, according to authorities.

Jacob T. Garrett, 24, of Burlington City was charged in connection with the Sunday death of Stephanie White, 23, also of Burlington City. Witnesses to the crash said Garrett told them, “Help my girlfriend,” before he fled, according to Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina.

Burlington City police used K-9 Officer Kobi to track Garrett from the river to the Burlington Towne Center North light rail platform on West Broad Street, according to the BCPO.

Police then had the train stopped at the Beverly/Edgewater Park station, where Garrett was located by officers from the Beverly City, Edgewater Park and City of Burlington police departments, according to the BCPO.

Garrett was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident, causing death while driving with a suspended license and endangering an injured victim. He was lodged in the Burlington County Jail. A first appearance will be scheduled soon in Superior Court in Mount Holly, according to the BCPO.

The investigation revealed that Garrett was traveling at a high rate of speed along Riverbank Road when his vehicle struck a parked minivan before vaulting over the river wall. His car then plunged into the water near Wood Street just before 1 p.m. on Sunday.

The front end of the car broke through the ice. White was found submerged in water with her seat belt still on. She was extricated by emergency workers and transported to Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County in Willingboro, where she was pronounced dead, according to the BCPO.

The investigation is ongoing and additional criminal charges are possible. Garrett also faces several motor vehicle summonses.

It was the second accident involving a car that plunged into a body of water in Burlington County this weekend. Read more: Car Plunges Into South Jersey Lake, Killing 2: Prosecutor

The investigation is being conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and City of Burlington Police Department. The lead investigators are BCPO Detective Tony Luyber and City of Burlington Police Detective Corporal Anna Czajka.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Thaddeus E. Drummond, who oversees the BCPO Collision and Analysis Reconstruction Unit.

Rescue agencies responding to the scene included the Burlington City Fire Department, Burlington Township Fire Department, Endeavor Emergency Squad and Croydon (Pa.) Fire Company.

BCPO photo