Monmouth County Woman Admits Running Over Boyfriend, Who Is Now A Quadriplegic

KEANSBURG, NJ — A Keansburg woman admitted to driving over her then-boyfriend with her car multiple times, in what the Monmouth County Prosecutor said was a "brutal" attempt to kill him.

This happened in July 2024 in Ocean Twp. The man suffered a severe spinal cord injury when she ran him over, and is now a quadriplegic, meaning he cannot use his arms or legs. He remains hospitalized, two years later, said law enforcement.

On Jan. 28, Yvette C. Barnes, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree attempted murder.

At approximately 11:05 p.m. July 10, 2024, Ocean Twp. police officers responded to the parking lot of a strip mall at 2301 Rt. 66 in Ocean Twp. after multiple reports from witnesses of a woman driving erratically and of a vehicular assault on a pedestrian.

Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim, a man, lying motionless and face down in the parking lot, suffering from multiple traumatic injuries to his head, neck and body. Additionally, investigators located blood and human hair littered throughout the lot.

Officers later determined that after being run down, he was dragged through the parking lot while trapped under Barnes’ vehicle.

In addition to his spinal injury, he had to undergo skin grafts.

Sentencing in this case is tentatively scheduled for March 11, at which time Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago intends to ask that Barnes serve 15 years in state prison, and must serve 85 percent of that before being eligible for parole.