JohnCarlos Y. Espinal, 24, of Marietta, Ga. faces charges in New York and in New Jersey.
FORT LEE — A motorist who crashed into a van on the George Washington Bridge before jumping out and leading police on a foot chase through traffic had his license suspended twice in two states, authorities said Monday.
(Port Authority Police Department) JohnCarlos Y. Espinal, 24, of Marietta, Ga. drove a 2008 Lexus to the bridge tolls in Fort Lee about 3:30 p.m. Friday.
"The Lexus had no license plates and passed through the toll lane without payment," police said in a statement.
A Port Authority police officer on duty at the bridge activated his emergency lights and siren, using the vehicle's public address system to tell the driver to pull over.
The driver sped off onto the lower level of the bridge and struck the rear of a van near the New York tower, police said.
The suspect got out of the car and ran through traffic on the bridge before he was caught, police said.
A computer check showed Espinal's license had been suspended in New York and in Georgia, police said.
Espinal faces charges in New York and in New Jersey, including reckless endangerment, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident, no insurance and unregistered vehicle.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.