Driver who destroyed Battle Monument still on the loose
TRENTON » Someone bowled into the iconic Battle Monument in the capital city weeks ago, destroying light poles and benches and creating a twisted eyesore out of the historic site.
The driver of the Dodge Caravan that wrecked the monument hasn’t been apprehended, and cops said the investigation into the March 9 crash is ongoing. The monument is located in the part of the city known as “Five Points,” where Warren and North Broad streets and Brunswick, Pennington and Princeton avenues meet. It was designed by architect John Duncan to commemorate the Battle of Trenton, when George Washington led troops across the Delaware River during the American Revolution.
The crumbled monument was still in shambles Tuesday, depicted in a Facebook video posted by Trenton Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson. The video showed broken and savagely stripped wooden beams scattered about that were once park benches.
Police spokesman Lt. Stephen Varn said the culprit tore through the Battle Monument around 11:30 p.m. as responding officers discovered a car that traveled on North Broad crashed head-on through a light post, went airborne and crashed into other light posts.
The car mowed over three park benches and finally came to a rest after slamming against a chain fence. The driver fled on foot and is still on the lam. Cops didn’t have an estimate of the damage.
“My question is why isn’t this mess cleaned up?” Caldwell-Wilson said in the video. “It should have been cleaned up days ago. … This is absolutely disgraceful. This just breaks my heart. I wish they could find the culprit who did this. It’s just horrible and so disrespectful to the monument.”
Caldwell-Wilson told The Trentonian in an interview Wednesday the cost to restore the precious monument will be covered by insurance. Over the years, the councilwoman said she has poured her heart, soul and money into keeping it clean and shining.
She said she raised $1,500 to restore the rusted flagpole and soaked another $300 or so into replacing the tattered flag.
“I was sick to my stomach,” she said. “I take so much pride in that park.”