Military men “foil” carjacking and save woman’s life in NJ

(WPHL) — Two military men are being credited for “foiling” a carjacking and saving a woman who was assaulted by a man in Waterford Township yesterday.

According to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, the incident occurred on May 1 at 8:37 a.m. when an accident occurred on Jackson Road near the intersection of Waverly Avenue.

Waterford Police were called and officers arrived to learned that a single motor vehicle drove off the roadway and crashed into a wooded area.

Officers were also told that a passing driver, unrelated to the accident, was attacked and strangled by the driver of the crashed vehicle, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office says.

The driver of the crashed vehicle, who was identified as Rondean McDonald from Mays Landing, had reportedly ripped open the locked passenger door, entered the car, and demanded that the driver drive him out of the area.

When the 59-year-old female victim refused, McDonald allegedly began assaulting her.

At this time, two members of the U.S. Army Reserves at Fort Dix, including one who is also an officer with the Philadelphia Police Department, were passing by and noticed the assault and jumped in to intervene.

The men reportedly used a fire extinguisher to break a window on the victim’s vehicle so they could remove McDonald.

The Camden County Prosecutors’ Office says McDonald was restrained at the scene by “Good Samaritans”.

McDonald was taken into custody and charged with first-degree Carjacking, first-degree Kidnapping, second-degree Aggravated Assault, and fourth-degree Criminal Mischief.

The female victim was Virtua Voorhees Hospital for treatment, where she is reported to be in stable condition.

McDonald was transported to Virtual Berlin Hospital and later remanded to the Camden County
Correctional Facility, pending a detention hearing in Superior Court.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident is asked to contact Detective Kristen Blantz of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (856) 225-8642 and Sergeant Michael Hackman of the Waterford Township Police Department at (856) 767-2134 x 245. Tips can also be sent to CAMDEN.TIPS.