Police: Missing Tire, Manchester Man Drove Flaming Truck Through Lakehurst

A Manchester man faces several charges including reckless driving and driving while intoxicated after Lakehurst police said that he drove a flaming truck without a front tire for at least 15 miles.

Police stopped the driver, Michael T. Newmon, 36, after he allegedly drove the damaged plumbing box truck through Lakehurst at about 3 a.m. Saturday, said Sgt. Ronald Heinzman.

Newmon was hanging partially out of the cab window because the windshield was shattered, Heinzman said, and flames and smoke were coming out from the undercarriage of the truck.

Additionally, Officer Mark Panzano said that the truck had tree branches stuck to it and a front tire was missing, meaning the vehicle was being driven on the rim.  

Panzano and Officer Iain James stopped Newmon and charged him with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving, having unsafe tires, and failure to exhibit documents, Heinzman said.

James then followed the gauge marks left in the road by the tire rim and found the truck had been in a crash about 15 miles away at the Route 70/72 circle in Burlington County, Heinzman said.  

It appeared that the truck crossed the circle, struck a tree and drove through bushes before traveling east again on Route 70 toward Lakehurst, according to Heinzman.

State police were notified about the incident and Newmon was released from Lakehurst police custody pending a court appearance, Heinzman said.

The truck could no longer be driven and was impounded, the sergeant said.