Fort Lee Man Charged With Assault by Auto

A 52-year-old Fort Lee man is accused of hitting another driver with his van when the man tried to stop him from fleeing the scene of a minor crash near Lemoine Avenue, police said.

Martin F. Smith of Fort Lee was driving his 1997 Ford Econoline eastbound in the right lane of Bridge Plaza South at 6:17 p.m. Sunday when he got into what police described as a “minor accident” with a vehicle driven by Christopher J. Gatley, 65, of Paramus, at the Lemoine Avenue intersection, according to Fort Lee police.

After the accident, Gatley got out of his vehicle and allegedly attempted to stop Smith from leaving the scene. In the process, Smith allegedly struck Gatley with the front of his van, knocking him to the ground, police said.

A Fort Lee police officer, who witnessed Smith allegedly hit Gatley before turning right on Lemoine, pulled Smith over within about 100 yards of the scene of the accident, police said.

Fort Lee police charged Smith with assault by auto, leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving stemming from the incident, according to the .

The Fort Lee Volunteer Ambulance Corps treated Gatley at Fort Lee police headquarters for minor contusions and scrapes, but Gatley refused additional medical treatment, police said.

Drugs, alcohol and excessive speed were ruled out as factors in the incident. The Fort Lee Police Traffic Bureau Accident Investigation Unit continues to investigate. Police also noted that Smith, who was processed and released pending a court hearing, is cooperating with the investigation.

One southbound lane of Lemoine Avenue and one lane of Bridge Plaza South were closed for about an hour Sunday evening as a result of the incident, police said.