Police: 19-year-old’s 'Holeshot' Causes Car Accident

To find out how landed in Northampton County Prison over the weekend, you have to go back to the week between Christmas and New Year's.

The 19-year-old Griffin, currently living in , was back in his old stomping grounds of Mullica Township, N.J., about 25 miles west of Atlantic City and adorned with the sprawling beauty of the Pine Barrens.

He was visiting a friend in Mullica, his former home, and was driving his Ford F150 pickup on Dec. 29, a Thursday.

At 2:22 p.m., he got ready to enter the eastbound lanes of the White Horse Pike, one of the main roads leading to the Jersey Shore's gambling mecca.

He then executed what Mullica police Capt. Brian Zeck called a "holeshot" – Griffin pulled out by holding one foot on the brake and stepping on the accelerator with the other foot at the same time, causing the tires to screech and spin as in the beginning of a drag race.

That maneuver "created" a traffic accident, Zeck said. Griffin's pickup slammed into another large vehicle – a Land Rover LR3 – going the other way.

The crash impact caused the Land Rover to roll over several times, Zeck said. The driver – a woman from Chester Springs (Chester County) -- and one of three passengers -- who lives in Mount Laurel, N.J. – suffered broken backs and had to be flown to a hospital, Zeck said. The other two passengers – from Mount Laurel and the nearby Jersey town of Cherry Hill – suffered minor injuries.

Griffin was not hurt, Zeck said.

Police released Griffin after the crash, but their investigation revealed he had acted "in a reckless manner," Zeck said.

A Superior Court warrant for his arrest was issued Jan. 13, according to court records.

Fast forward to this past Friday night. Griffin, with football player-like measurements of 6-feet-1 and 230 pounds, was driving in Tatamy around 7:35pm. Borough officer Steven Horvath noticed Griffin's vehicle did not have a front bumper. He made a traffic stop at 164 Bushkill St.

A little checking found that Griffin, who lives at 46 Country Side Court in Palmer, was considered a fugitive from justice because of the Mullica warrant.

He was arraigned at 12:15 a.m. Saturday by on-duty District Judge Todd Strohe of Bangor, who denied bail and committed him to Northampton County Prison.

A hearing was scheduled for Monday, but the district attorney's office said Tuesday it had no information on Griffin's status.

Zeck in Mullica said he has received no paperwork concerning Griffin's extradition to New Jersey.

Griffin is charged with aggravated assault by auto, reckless endangerment with a motor vehicle causing serious bodily injury and operating a vehicle with a suspended license.

The license refers to Griffin's New Jersey driver's license. He also has a Pennsylvania driver's license that expires May 31, 2014, according to court records.