New Jersey

New Jersey Man Indicted for Allegedly Leaving Girlfriend to Die in Icy River Plunge

The charges stem from a Jan. 14 crash in Burlington that killed Stephanie White

What to Know

  • The charges against Jacob Garrett stem from a Jan. 14 crash in Burlington that killed his 23-year-old girlfriend Stephanie White
  • Cops allege Garrett was driving at a high rate of speed when his car hit a parked minivan, then vaulted over the river wall
  • As the vehicle became submerged in water, witnesses helped Garrett get out of the car while White remained trapped in the passenger seat

A New Jersey man accused of fleeing a crash of a vehicle into the Delaware River that claimed the life of his 23-year-old girlfriend has been indicted on vehicular homicide charges.

Jacob Garrett, a 25-year-old from Burlington City, also faces counts of leaving the scene of a fatal accident, causing death while driving on a suspended license and endangering an injured victim.

An indictment was handed up Tuesday by a county grand jury.

The charges stem from a Jan. 14 crash in Burlington that killed Garrett's girlfriend, Stephanie White, also of Burlington City. Prosecutors have said Garrett may have been drinking and on drugs at the time. Cops say he was driving at a high rate of speed when his car hit a parked minivan, then vaulted over the river wall and plunged into the icy water below. 

As the vehicle became submerged, witnesses helped Garrett get out of the car while White remained trapped in the passenger seat, the Burlington County Prosecutor's office said in a statement at the time. Garrett then allegedly told witnesses to "help my girlfriend" before fleeing the scene.

White was still wearing her seat belt when responding firefighters pulled her out of the submerged vehicle. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.

"He left his girlfriend in the water to die," Burlington City Police Captain John Fine said in January. "When he crashed his car the vehicle went into the water, he got out, said take care of my girlfriend, and ran away. That's an offense in itself."

Garrett could face several decades in prison if he's convicted on all counts. It wasn't known Wednesday if he's retained an attorney.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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