Police arrested two women accused of attacking a driver and then intentionally crashing his vehicle while his 1-year-old son was inside following a hit-and-run in Atlantic City, New Jersey Saturday afternoon.
Police say Veda Nolasco, 31, of the Bronx, New York, was driving on Rhode Island and Pacific avenues when she was involved in a collision with another vehicle driven by Promise Igboanugo, 35, of Atlantic City. Igboanugo's 1-year-old child was also inside his car.
Igboanugo said he tried to confront Nolasco and her passenger, Tiffany Williams, 29, also of the Bronx, but they sped off.
Igboanugo caught up to the women, blocked them with his own car and tried to call 911. That's when the two women got out of their vehicle and attacked him, police said.
"She opened the door of my vehicle," Igboanugo said. "Dragged me all the way down."
Igboanugo said Nolasco pulled him out of his car and put him in a headlock.
"I was out of breath," he said. "I had to bite her. I bit her so tight, she leave me."
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Nolasco allegedly jumped in Igboanugo's vehicle and deliberately crashed it into a pole while his son was still inside. Nolasco and Williams then got back into their own vehicle and fled the scene, police said.
Igboanugo said he didn't fight back because he feared the women were armed after they claimed to be members of the military.
"That is why I leave them to assault me, endanger my child's life, totaled my car and still get away," he said.
Police located Nolasco’s vehicle on the beach block of New Jersey Avenue. Security personnel with the nearby Showboat hotel then found Nolasco and Williams inside their property. They were detained until officers arrived and arrested them.
Igboanugo and his son were both evaluated at the scene by medics and released.
"She had no remorse," Igboanugo said. "She just wanted to get my car out of the way and go her own way."
Both women are charged with robbery, conspiracy, theft, endangering the welfare of a child and simple assault. Nolasco is also charged with several motor vehicle summonses. The two women were remanded to the Atlantic County Justice Facility. Police say they have no information that indicates that either woman is actually in the military.
If you have any information on the incident, please call the Atlantic City Police Department Criminal Investigations section at 609-347-5766. You can also text information to tip411 (847411) and begin the text with ACPD. All texts are anonymous.
