Luxury car caravan ignites probe of NJ police escorts

TRENTON, N.J. - April 25, 2012

Dubbed "Death Race 2010", home video shows what it looked like on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway two years ago, and apparently again March 30th when NJ State Police escorted a caravan of high performance luxury cars to Atlantic City at speeds that reportedly reached 120 mph.

"There was some very dangerous maneuvers that were occurring at high speeds during the course of this escort," said New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes.

Former NY Giants running back Brandon Jacobs was among those driving in the caravan. He is pictured in a photo wearing a vest with the gold N.J. State Police triangle.

Several motorists who were on the road when the Lamborghinis and Ferraris went tearing by complained. The two veteran troopers who provided the escort have been suspended without pay and their station commander reassigned.

The state Attorney General says police escorts are used for public safety, often to transport dignitaries or large groups.

"This escort from the information we have went in the opposite direction and actually put the public at risk," said N.J. Attorney General Jeff Chiesa.

"You shouldn't be flying down the road at 110 mph. I mean that's just dangerous. It's a hazard and it's against the law," said Nicole Smaha of Lafayette Hill, Pa.

"These people had their license plates covered over with tape allegedly and here they're being escorted by the police," said Mike Kammer of Hoboken, N.J.

And while many people are outraged by the high speed caravan weaving its way in and out of traffic, at least one man told us people should instead be paying attention to issues like unemployment and foreclosures.

"That's more important than an escort down the Turnpike with high performance vehicles. It's really a non-story," said Sherman Cole of Williams Township, Pa.

Not to N.J. State Police and the attorney general, who say the investigation will continue, including a review of the guidelines that govern police escorts.

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