Story Courtesy of Jersey Shore Online- CLICK HERE TO READ ORIGINAL!
TOMS RIVER – Toms River police, corroborated with witness accounts, state that a Board of Education member accidentally ran his truck off the road after pursuing someone who cut him off.
Daniel Leonard, 42, of Beachwood, was charged with reckless driving and failing to maintain a lane on July 6, police reported.
Leonard has since disputed these charges, and has hired an attorney to represent him.
According to a police report, Leonard was driving north on Hooper Avenue. When traffic merged near Edken Lane, his truck was cut off by a white Audi. This led to a pursuit where Leonard allegedly chased the car, lost control of his own vehicle, and wound up totaling it against a tree in an embankment off the intersection with Bay Avenue.
Three independent witnesses at the scene told the responding officer that Leonard’s truck was speeding and appeared to be chasing the Audi. It left the roadway when it was going too fast to safely negotiate an offramp.
Police said that Leonard’s version of the story was that he was cut off by the Audi near the intersection with Edkin Avenue. He said he was following behind the Audi after that at a normal rate of speed but was then cut off again when the Audi went east on Bay Avenue.
“Driver #1’s (Leonard) statement changed multiple times from his original statement,” the officer wrote in the report. “Driver #1 was observed to be agitated and uncooperative with police during the crash investigation.”
Meanwhile, the driver of the Audi, Robert Mason, had gone to the police department to report the incident.
His version was that he was in the middle lane going northbound on Hooper, stopped at the intersection at Edkin. When the lanes merged, his Audi was in front of Leonard’s truck. The truck’s driver, Leonard, began honking and tailgating, according to Mason’s description on the police report.
At one point, Mason said he turned off into the TD Bank near Caudina Avenue but claimed that the truck followed, so he got back onto Hooper, where the chase continued on the shoulder.
“As Mason approached the exit ramp for eastbound Bay Avenue, he suddenly entered the ramp at a high rate of speed. In doing so, vehicle #1 attempted to follow, but was unsuccessful,” the police report stated. “Mason added that he was fearful of his life as vehicle #1 was following him.”
The officer writing the report stated that Leonard was at fault due to his conflicting statements, his demeanor when speaking with police, and that the distance his truck travelled into the embankment was indicative of a high rate of speed.
Leonard and his passenger, Christopher McGuire of Bayville, suffered minor injuries at the scene. They refused medical attention and informed police that they would go to Community Medical Center in Toms River on their own.
On social media, Leonard disputed the charges and said he will be represented by attorney S. Karl Mohel. He also criticized online articles about the incident.
He noted that the police report does not say “road rage,” as was noted in other articles, and that it doesn’t mention the road conditions. He said it was raining that day and there was gravel on the turn.
“I nearly died and was not arrested, had seat belt on, not drinking, full insurance and registration and damaged no property, people or vehicles,” he said. “I held the steering wheel steady and tried to brake numerous times as you can see…but 9,000 pounds on wet grass and a gravely turn won.”
He said the driver of the Audi hit the brakes just before the crash, which contributed to his loss of control. He asserted that the driver fabricated the story to the police to cover himself once he saw the truck behind him go off the road.
He said he was agitated at the scene for obvious reasons, having a totaled truck and being in a serious crash.
Leonard noted that the only reason a relatively minor crash would get media coverage is because of his position as an elected official.
The legal goings-on of elected officials do tend to make the news.
Former Board of Education member Robert Onofrietti had accused him of stalking two years ago after seeing him driving by his house. This issue made the news in several venues. Police responded to the scene but saw no criminal activity. After that, Onofrietti said he and Leonard sat down and discussed it like adults.
“We were always friends before and we discovered there were people who had a vested interest in having us fight,” he said. “It has been dropped and I consider Dan a friend.”
?
Great move smh
WAIT until his next car insurance bill comes in.
Somewhere between the two stories the truth will emerge.
Karma is a bitch for this dude. All he does is bad mouth this person and that person. Dude has severe psychological issues…especially going after someone with the kind of rage he has. Get him off the board!
Jackass
Leonard is such a hot head, I’m sure he is hoping those administrators he just gave raises to have friends in high places to get him out of this…..
Drew Chabot and I bet they will
Don’t Persue them ever. Anyone pushing someone will get theirs. No doubt.
Crazy….people cut me off all the time….I just flip them the bird and I’m good..lol
That’s the Jersey way
Now this is hilarious !
?????
GO TEAM LEONARD ???
He’ll probably just pull a Rich Gato and get off. Ptsd from the service.
Andy Nemec OMG ?
I-D-I-O-T. #77 Let the pros handle it
Little anger management issue going on
What a loser.
Board member of schools & you can’t control yourself on road That’s just not right Hmmm School have really gone to shit
What an idiot. Guy is a loose cannon
Jackass
He could have killed a kid,,,he should be kicked off the board and his license revoked for such driving ..lets see what GOP carpet this gets sweep under..
You’re an idiot …… lol
Your the Idiot to think he is above being charged with road rage. Half a dozen people cut off my truck every week but knowing the fact that road rage carries lost or license and a heavy fine and that I am smart enough to know endangering myself or other is just stupid I just cuss a little, wavy and motor on…on and your the Idiot. ?
John Henry Collins that’s him that you are talking to lol
Road rage is really life rage, should his guy be on the board with his mental condition?
lol
By the looks of those sneakers, he was rushing home to mow his grass. Probably just use to the sheer power his ride on mower operates with
By the looks of those sneakers, he was rushing home to mow his grass. Probably just use to the sheer power his ride on mower operates with
He needs to submit his resignation, enough with this fool.
yeah lol ok
D.P. Leonard you are not fit to make decisions regarding the children of Toms River.
How ya figure? I am killing it up there!
https://www.facebook.com/events/2538611512832527/
http://www.linkedin.com/in/DLeonard76 ……… Actually, as a registered Independent – there is nobody better than me for the job of controlling behind the scenes local politics and keeping all the jerkoffs in line that try to make it partisan …… Stop believing what you hear via social media not a single accusation against me has EVER BEEN CREDIBLE …… That’s a Fact ! I get attacked from being ME ….. I accept it and I still do it for you whether you like me or not …… No hard feelings!
Shari Brucker Stopera all this guy spews is hate. He’s the laughing joke of MANY People in town
Desiree Domer i agree which is why i figured I’d just let him sink himself
Right away you hear one side of the story not know full facts and people talk about how bad a person he is there are 3 sides to a story I don’t need to explain that I hope every person is innocent until proving guilty in a court of law
Richard S Kieck it’s still hilarious that he thought he was actually entitled to attempt to chase someone down and smashed up his OWN truck.
Thank God this fool didn’t crash into a car and kill somebody.
Tell your buddy to please contact the va & get the help he obviously needs.
my family member was on 78 when a crazy driver was driving out of control who then got in front of him while his children and wife in the car slammed on his brakes came at my family member and hit him with brass knuckles cause damage to the nose and face while sitting in his car because he couldn’t pass and never mind the trauma to the children
Thank god that didn’t happen but I think there’s more to the story they are only telling you one sided story about what happened
2 wrongs don’t make a right that’s for sure
For the real facts and latest news tune into Team Leonard and stop believing what ya read you are all being partially informed !
What a joke. So is your bullshit story too. Witnesses saw what you did. You are just a salty person who got caught and are now trying to change your story. Good luck in court
Desiree Domer Ok Handsome …… thx
Good for him . His a A hole
I hope there is a job opening I’m game
Thomas Lavallo aren’t you busy enough causing havoc in bagel shops
Michael Unger yea what’s it to ya
Thomas Lavallo I got your back!
So that was the stupidest hot headed power rich move to make let’s endanger more lives because some asshole is being an asshole let’s be a bigger dumber asshole then him let’s show him who’s the real asshole …. stupid
His story has to many inconsistencies, plus why would an innocent bystander blatantly lie about it? I bet they didn’t know who it was before they gave there statement. You can’t fool the world bro, credible evidence is pretty convincing. everything isn’t a conspiracy Theroy.
Hey everyone I am going to the BOE Committee Meetings at 6PM at 1144 Hooper so feel free to show up and discuss in public ….. lol You’re social media “rush to judgement” condemnation of me is amateur and unimpressive! Thanks for the feigned outrage but like I said for the real news head on over to Team Leonard ….. Also nothing that had ever been said about me in the media based on allegations has come true …… Not Once! I never get a retraction and I am fine with that ……….How about believing the good guy once in a while and stop with the negativity bias about anyone in an elected position …… Some of us just want to make things better and get attacked just for being a large personality ….. I will let you know when I F up …… and this story is TOTALLY off base! But like I said head over to Team Leonard!
D.P. Leonard “your” and this is a board of education member. Lord. So I’ll just ask for your answer. Did you do this?
Jennifer Figner Groff Crash ….. Yes lol
D.P. Leonard ok so your side is no road rage but a crash. Now everyone is free to judge. You have both sides…..you’re all welcome. ?
Also I make typos at times I apologize for that too ….. lol …… string me up !
No but after dealing with all this BS …… I’m slightly outraged lol
https://www.facebook.com/639492899429064/posts/2520925384619130?s=1535948414&sfns=mo
D.P. Leonard teaching class like:
Shayla Wardell
Nicolas Gable their they’re ….. ? Over There!
Can I have his job? I am actually not a crazy person and need a great paying job. I don’t chase people down and run into stuff! I am over-qualified.
Keep making TR classy.
Brian Arasz is that you in the white audi???
Brian Thompson no it’s this handsome sob’s …..
No. That’s not Brian Arasz.
Brian Arasz has an audi. He cut u off.
Trust me.
Are you ok D.P. Leonard?
Caryn Esposito no my feelings are hurt from the rush to judgement above ….. but I’ll live
D.P. Leonard I can see how that could be devastating. Chin up my friend.
Hey if you screwed up own it. That’s all. Just own it and move on
Janet Hessler Ford I crashed obviously I was wrong …… but the media headlines are batshit wrong ….. and the wet road and gravel was the real game changer for me ….. I just won’t let social media bs go unchecked
D.P. Leonard …shit happens, to EVERYONE, you admit you messed up thats half the battle now the rest if it how you handle what’s in front of you. People will talk, people who have no right to judge anyone anyone else because only you walk in your shoes. Unfortunately you are in a position that draws more social media attention. While I understand the need to set the record straight in the end does it even matter when people are gonna think what they want to anyway? Just learn from this and move forward in a positive way. That’s all you can reall do.
Janet Hessler Ford I am ….. although I have my favorites that I need to consistently set straight ?
D.P. Leonard since you are you’ve already won. Look why bother arguing with people who will never get it…seriously it only feeds their flame and ego. Let it go and focus on your family and yourself. In the end isnt what really matters. ? But if you want the attention thats important then hey keep fueling the fire…..your choice
Janet Hessler Ford I’m a pro at it that’s for sure ?
D.P. Leonard …airborne or not….dude be humble
Janet Hessler Ford No Thanks ….. lol I am who I am ….. no need to pretend
Janet Hessler Ford
D.P. Leonard oh ….that’s total bullshit. Nice try though
Ok you got me ?
D.P. Leonard ok fine then feed your ego with the replies is child like ….that negative attention is better than no attention but hey be you .
Janet Hessler Ford You can Support me instead
D.P. Leonard you have no idea
Janet Hessler Ford Oh I know it’s hard but without struggle there is no progress …..
Janet Hessler Ford Thanks for the comments ?
The comments were more interesting than the story
Nicolas Gable look who’s fearing for his life Rick Villanova
I didnt tag your sister bc I didnt know if she would even wanna be involved lol
Shayla Wardell is he actually fearing for his life? He does this to people all the time. People who are doubting it are ridiculous.
Highly doubt he was fearing for his life lol probably a scheme for cash. What else is new???♀️
Sarah Viviana look who’s driving luxury cars but on permanent disability and “making $0 income” again