Patient allegedly stole van from hospital, crashed on NJ highway and attempted 2nd carjacking
HOLMDEL, New Jersey (WABC) -- A patient released from a New Jersey hospital Wednesday morning was shot by police after he stole a medical van and crashed into a median on the highway.
According to Bayshore Hospital, one of their patients, identified as 33-year-old Justin Chacon, was released in Holmdel earlier Wednesday.
That's when that patient stole a medical van and took off, according to another source.
He was headed down Route 35 toward Middletown when he crashed into a median.
A good Samaritan tried to help the patient, but he stole that man's car and drove away.
The patient went speeding down Route 35 again when police were able to catch up to him.
That's when he crashed into a roadside fruit stand, taking out utility poles in the process and the car burst into flames.
Holmdel Police tried to take the patient into custody when an altercation happened leading to him being shot by an officer around 6:15 a.m. near the intersection at Centerville Road.
According to police, Chacon has addresses in both Brooklyn and Old Bridge.
He has several prior arrests involving cars including an arrest on July 26, 2020 for criminal mischief in a road rage incident where he struck the victim's truck with a wooden baseball bat in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
He was also arrested on April 7, 2014 for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in Brooklyn, and on Sept. 18, 2013 for driving with a suspended license, also in Brooklyn.
He's back at an area hospital along with one other person who both have non-life-threatening injuries.
Route 35 from Centerville Road to Neversink Road was closed for hours while police conducted their investigation.
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