Perth Amboy witnessed a wave of reckless driving that frustrated residents, left motorists stuck in traffic, and resulted in one arrest plus numerous citations as the Bay City became the latest scene of madness demonstrated by wild riders.
On Sunday, March 17, 2024, the Perth Amboy Police Department responded to a chaotic scene at the foot of the Victory Bridge, where drivers engaged in “donuts,” blocking traffic and endangering bystanders on Route 35 and Convery Boulevard.
The incident, captured on camera, showed multiple cars spinning recklessly in the middle of a busy intersection, bringing traffic to a standstill.
The spectacle drew a crowd of onlookers estimated to consist of around 300 people gathering to witness the risky maneuvers.
“I was thinking it was some accident, but it took like 10 minutes,” said Leo Duran, one of the witnesses. “A lot of people, maybe like 300 people stood by the cars looking.”
The situation escalated as drivers disregarded safety protocols, coming dangerously close to spectators and causing debris to fly around. The event gained traction through social media, attracting individuals who seemed more interested in capturing the spectacle than considering the safety implications.
Perth Amboy Police Chief Larry Cattano expressed concern over how such incidents proliferate through social media.
“It starts with an individual as an idea,” said Cattano, “Then it just proliferates through social media.”
The reckless behavior persisted for several minutes until law enforcement arrived, navigating through the traffic jam to address the situation.
Ultimately, one driver was arrested, and the authorities seized his vehicle.
The driver arrested was identified as 21-year-old Deyvi Navarette-Menjivar from Plainfield, who faces charges including disorderly conduct and interference with transportation.
The police department issued more than a dozen summonses related to the incident and is working with neighboring towns in Middlesex County to identify and potentially charge other involved drivers.
“If you do come into our city pulling these types of stunts, there’s going to be consequences you’re not gonna like,” said tough-talking Mayor Helmin Caba in a warning to potential copycats, emphasizing that such behavior will not be tolerated in the city. .
The incident in Perth Amboy is part of a larger trend of illegal car rallies or “street takeovers” that involve groups gathering to showcase their vehicles and driving skills through dangerous maneuvers like donuts and burnouts.
In February, driver Gerald White — who pleaded guilty to charges of Aggravated Manslaughter and Aggravated Assault after killing two people during an illegal car rally last year in Wildwood — was sentenced to 25 years behind bars.
White, 38, was involved in a crash on Atlantic Avenue during the unsanctioned H2Oi rally on September 24, 2022. Timothy Ogden, 34, of Clayton, New Jersey, was a passenger in the Honda Civic and also died from his injuries. Family members say he had just left the Irish Fall Festival with his fiance when they were struck.
Authorities also indicted Eryk Wnek of Linden, on a second-degree count of aggravated assault and third- and fourth-degree assault by auto charges stemming from his collision with another vehicle that subsequently struck a golf cart carrying a man, his girlfriend and four children.
Assistant Cape May County Prosecutor Dara Paley said Wnek was allegedly traveling at a high rate of speed on Rio Grande Avenue when his BMW collided with a black sedan, causing the BMW to spin out and hit the cart. The golf cart driver was thrown from the vehicle and airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries, including a brain bleed and broken vertebrae, collarbone, ribs and kneecap, according to prosecutors. The woman and kids suffered bruises. Wnek’s actions caused the collision with the black sedan, because he was performing a burnout on the street while spectators urged him on moments before the crash.
On March 3, 2024, an unsanctioned car meetup took place at Paramus Towne Square and the Raymour & Flanigan parking lot in Paramus, New Jersey, with more than 1,000 vehicles in attendance. The event caused traffic violations, which led to summonses from Paramus police. The event also caused severe congestion on Route 17.
Law enforcement agencies across the region are actively addressing these incidents to ensure public safety and deter future occurrences.
The Perth Amboy Police Department encourages anyone with information or video evidence related to this incident to contact Detective Sgt. Pineiro at 732-324-3813 or text TIPS to 888777 (NIXLE). The department remains committed to maintaining public safety and preventing similar incidents in the future.
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