Keansburg Woman Indicted in Traffic Circle Chase

A February police chase which was foiled by a Wall traffic circle yielded formal charges for Michelle D. Zahner.

Holmdel .

Patrolman Jonathan Martin pursued the vehicle down Laurel Avenue and into Keansburg. The car stopped twice but police said Zahner sped off when Martin stepped out of the vehicle.

Zahner allegedly turned back down Laurel Avenue and fled onto the Garden State Parkway. Holmdel police said Zahner was observed throwing items out of the driver's side window during the parkway portion of the chase. Zahner exited the parkway at exit 100A, where she led police through several towns before losing the passenger's side tire on the Route 34 traffic circle in Wall Township, according to a February press release.

Zahner was not indicted this week on any drug charges.

The pursuit continued on Route 34 until it reached Old Bridge. Zahner then allegedly traveled along Route 9, Route 35 and Route 36, passing through Hazlet and Middletown, Holmdel police said.

The Middletown Police Department placed stop sticks on the roadway at the intersection of Route 36 and Palmer Avenue. As Zahner passed through the intersection, her vehicle hit the stop sticks, causing the driver's side front tire to blow out, according to authorities. With no front tires, the car traveled another mile before it stopped in the area of Thompson Avenue in Middletown.

During the chase, Zahner's vehicle was clocked at a speed of 96 MPH according to police. She was indicted on one charge of eluding police, a second degree crime.

An indictment is a formal charge, not a conviction, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.