Troopers suspended — may have escorted high-speed caravan

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey removed two state troopers from active duty amid investigations into a high-speed caravan of Porsches, Lamborghinis and Ferraris led by police cruisers on the Garden State Parkway last month.

Sgt. First Class Nadir Nassry, 47, and Trooper Joseph Ventrella, 28, were suspended without pay, Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa said Monday.

Motorists reported two cruisers on March 30 leading a pack of sports cars in a “Death Race” convoy at speeds of 100 mph toward Atlantic City, according to complaints filed with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. The drivers said two cruisers led the sports cars past them. The cars were weaving in and out of traffic, almost forcing some vehicles off the road, according to one of the statements.

“The state is very lucky no one was killed today,” Wayne Gantt of Little Egg Harbor said in one of the written complaints to the agency that runs the toll road.

Gantt dubbed the incident “Death Race 2012” in his complaint. The State Police cruisers had their lights flashing, and the sports cars had their registration plates taped over, according to the complaint from the other driver, John W. Kennedy, who said they passed him between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

“I had the great pleasure today of nearly being killed by, not one, but two, Lamborghinis traveling in excess of 110 mph in a Njsp-escorted caravan of approximately 30 exotic vehicles all traveling well over 100 mph,” Gantt said in his complaint, dated March 30 and provided by the authority.

Former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, 29, who signed with the 49ers in April, was among the group, according to the Newark Star-ledger, which cited but did not name a person with knowledge of the trip.

“Yes, he went down to Atlantic City in a group that included a police escort,” Justin Schulman, Jacobs’ agent, said Monday. “I don’t know, nor does he know, if that was his caravan.”

Nassry knows Jacobs from charity work, said Charles Sciarra, a lawyer who represents Nassry. Jacobs contacted the trooper to request an escort for the drivers, who were heading to the seaside resort to discuss raising money for their next cause, Sciarra said Monday.

Troopers provide escorts “to enhance public safety” in such instances as funerals for fallen soldiers, police spokesman Lt. Stephen Jones said. No citations have been issued stemming from the incident.