Woman Accused Of Deliberately Hitting N.J. High School Teacher With Car
CLIFTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A high school teacher was recovering Monday night after being hit by a driver last week during a school evacuation.
As CBS 2's Alice Gainer reported, it turned out the driver has a connection to a former New York Giants player.
A substitute teacher took the place of history teacher Joseph Bell on Monday at Clifton High School, because Bell was on crutches.
"Everybody knows him. They know he's a very great teacher," a student said. "It was pretty sad to know that that happened to him."
The school was being evacuated Friday morning after a bomb threat was called in. Bell was in the area of Broad Street and Colfax Avenue in Clifton, just up the road from the school, directing students to their evacuation point when he was hit, police said.
"I saw him in, like, the middle of the street," a student said.
According to police, Jessica Marcus, 28, was a few cars back in traffic before she drove up beeping her horn, and telling Bell she was going through – and if he didn't move, she was going to run him over.
She then allegedly nudged him with her car several times until he fell, and then she drove off.
One student said her friend saw the whole thing.
"My friend came running to me, 'Oh my God! A teacher got hit by a car! And she didn't want to stop; she just kept driving!'" the student said.
Someone wrote Marcus' license plate number down and she was later arrested at her home near the school, police said.
Marcus – the mother of recently-cut Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw's two children – came to the window, but she did not open the door or speak to CBS 2.
A relative said Bell hurt his knee, and will return to a doctor before returning to his job at the school.
Meanwhile, students saddened by the incident had a message for him.
"I love you, Mr. Bell, and I hope you get better," a student said.
As for Marcus, she was charged with aggravated assault with a weapon and making terroristic threats, police said.
Marcus was arraigned Monday morning, and will head to Passaic County Court at the end of the month.
As for the bomb threat at the school Friday, Clifton police said they found nothing inside, and students were allowed back in the building later that morning.
Please leave your comments below...
