In the complaints, obtained by The Star-Ledger, witnesses said that in the early afternoon March 30, they saw two State Police patrol cars with their emergency lights flashing driving in front of and behind the southbound caravan, which included dozens of Porsches, Lamborghinis, Ferraris and other vehicles, all with their license plates covered with tape.
"I had the great pleasure today of nearly being killed by, not one, but two, Lamborghinis traveling in excess of 110 mph in a (New Jersey State Police) escorted ‘caravan’ of approximately 30 exotic vehicles all traveling well over 100 mph," Wayne Gantt wrote in an e-mail complaint to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Gantt dubbed the scene 'Death Race 2012.'
Jacobs is reportedly a member of the Driving Force Club, 'the club for all car fanatics with a spice of racing and adrenalin rush in their heart.'
NJSP spokesman Lt. Stephen Jones confirmed the investigation. Jacobs’ agent, Justin Schulman, confirmed "Brandon was part of a group that went down to Atlantic City on March 30." A second complaint, filed by John Kennedy, said that one older driver "almost wound up in the ditch because she panicked," adding "The car raced by me going (estimated) 100+ mph. Then I noticed there was a series of performance cars (Porsches, Ferraris, etc.) that were following the lead police car with their blinkers on and license plates taped off — speeding at the same high rate. I noticed that many cars were struggling to get out of their way safely."
"If they were, in fact, acting as escorts -- it runs contrary to State Police policy," Paul Loriquet, spokesman for Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa, said. "The investigation remains ongoing."
"This is a very serious and disturbing matter for a couple of reasons, but particularly in terms of the disregard for public safety by all those allegedly involved," Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for Governor Chris Christie, said in an e- mail. "The State Police and Attorney General's Office have been investigating, and we have full confidence they will act swiftly and appropriately after all the facts are verified and considered."
Last October Jacobs told ESPN's Jane McManus: "I've got nothing positive to say. The most positive thing: I got family at home and I got a fast ass car being delivered on Tuesday. That's it."
What a ride it has been.
**Update, the NJSP has swiftly suspended 2 troopers, reassigned another.
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