Truck takes off without driver, crashes into 2 Harley motorcycles

VINELAND – A driver thought his truck broke down.

Then it suddenly took off down Delsea Drive and he couldn't catch up.

Pascual Garcia of West Almond Road was at the Delsea and Chestnut avenue intersection on July 7 when the truck he was driving failed to move when he hit the gas.

He got out, and with some help, started to push the truck out of the intersection when “it suddenly began to drive on its own and headed north” on Delsea Drive, according to police reports.

With Garcia in pursuit, the pickup struck several mailboxes and a fence before running onto Jim Main’s Bakery property.

A Bellmawr man told police he was taking a break when he saw the driverless truck careening toward his parked Harley Davidson. The impact sent his motorcycle into a second motorcycle parked nearby, knocking them both the ground, he said.

Police noted the pickup's gear selector was in park and are reviewing if mechanical malfunction caused the collision.

Both Harley Davidsons, inoperable due to heavy damage, and the pickup were towed.

Police noted no injuries were reported because all three vehicles involved in the crash were unoccupied.

Garcia was cited for no driver’s license and an unregistered vehicle.

Deborah M. Marko: 856-563-5256; dmarko@gannettnj.com; Twitter: @dmarko_dj

Also in South Jersey

Millville Police investigating North Second Street shooting

8 charged as Franklin police bust burglary ring

Cumberland County prosecutor releases police body cam video of fatal shooting