Parents of man killed in 2024 Hunterdon County crash file lawsuit against state trooper
HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — The parents of a 20-year-old man killed in a 2024 crash in Hunterdon County have filed a lawsuit against a New Jersey State Police staff sergeant, alleging that an unjustified high-speed pursuit caused their son’s death.
The lawsuit was filed Oct. 16 in New Jersey Superior Court in Hunterdon County by Lisa A. Ridge and Scott Evan Segreaves Sr., the parents of Scott Evan Segreaves Jr., who died in a single-vehicle crash on Stamets Road in Holland Township on Oct. 18, 2024.
The complaint names State Police Staff Sgt. Nicholas Pryszlak and up to 10 unidentified individuals who allegedly participated in initiating, authorizing, directing or continuing the pursuit. The parents, acting as co-administrators of their son’s estate, are seeking damages and a jury trial.
According to the lawsuit, Pryszlak began pursuing Segreaves shortly after 10:24 p.m. in Milford Borough in connection with an alleged speeding violation. The vehicles traveled along Frenchtown Road before turning onto Stamets Road, where Pryszlak activated his emergency lights and siren.
The complaint alleges that Pryszlak pursued Segreaves at a high rate of speed along winding roads without sufficient justification. It cites the New Jersey Attorney General’s public account of the crash, which reported that the trooper’s vehicle reached at least 73 mph during the pursuit.
The lawsuit alleges that Segreaves subsequently lost control of his vehicle near Gallmeier Road, traveled down an embankment, struck trees and overturned. Segreaves was ejected from the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries.
His parents contend that the pursuit was unjustified and directly contributed to the crash that killed their son.
The complaint alleges that Pryszlak violated New Jersey’s Attorney General Vehicular Pursuit Policy and applicable State Police standing orders governing when officers may initiate or continue vehicle pursuits.
According to the lawsuit, provisions of the April 2022 pursuit policy restrict pursuits for motor vehicle violations unless an officer reasonably believes the driver poses a specified imminent threat based on conduct occurring before the attempted stop. The complaint also references requirements involving supervisory authorization, emergency equipment, notifications and termination of pursuits.
The plaintiffs allege that Pryszlak knowingly disregarded those requirements and engaged in conduct that went beyond negligent judgment. The lawsuit further alleges that the pursuit exposed Segreaves to a foreseeable risk of a fatal crash.
The complaint includes five counts: a state tort claim, a federal civil rights claim, a claim under the New Jersey Civil Rights Act, wrongful death and a survival action.
In the civil rights claims, the parents allege that Pryszlak and the unidentified defendants misused police authority and violated their son’s constitutional rights. The lawsuit specifically alleges that the pursuit was conducted with an intent to cause physical harm unrelated to a legitimate law enforcement objective.
Those allegations are claims made by the plaintiffs and have not been established by a court.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, along with interest and court costs. The parents also seek damages under New Jersey’s Wrongful Death Act and Survival Act, including alleged financial losses, lost earnings, pain and suffering and other losses associated with their son’s death.
The complaint states that written notice of the claim was submitted to the state Jan. 6, 2025. Attorney Joseph Monaco of Monaco Law PC is representing the plaintiffs.
The civil lawsuit comes after a state grand jury declined to file criminal charges against Pryszlak in connection with the crash.
The grand jury voted not to bring charges after reviewing an investigation conducted by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. The grand jury concluded its deliberations Dec. 15, 2025.
According to the state’s investigation, Pryszlak attempted to catch up to Segreaves’ vehicle shortly after 10:24 p.m. on Water Street in Milford Borough in connection with a speeding violation. Surveillance footage showed both vehicles traveling on Frenchtown Road before turning onto Stamets Road.
Investigators said Pryszlak activated his emergency lights and siren and followed Segreaves as speeds reached up to 73 mph. Approximately 45 seconds later, Pryszlak lost sight of the vehicle, deactivated his emergency equipment and slowed to approximately 23 mph while searching the area with a spotlight.
Authorities determined that Segreaves continued driving at a high rate of speed and approached a curve on Stamets Road at approximately 104 mph around 10:26 p.m. He lost control, left the roadway near Gallmeier Road, struck multiple trees and overturned.
According to the investigation, Pryszlak was unaware that the crash had occurred and continued driving before briefly speaking with a civilian.
At approximately 10:28 p.m., Holland Township police received an automated crash notification from Segreaves’ iPhone. Officers used location information from the alert to search the area, and Pryszlak located the overturned vehicle down an embankment at approximately 10:58 p.m.
Segreaves was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Attorney General’s Office said the investigation included body-worn camera footage, vehicle recorder data, surveillance video, dispatch recordings, photographs, crash reports and medical examiner findings.
The grand jury’s decision not to file criminal charges followed that review. The newly filed civil lawsuit separately seeks to establish liability for Segreaves’ death.
The allegations in the lawsuit remain unproven, and the complaint requests that the claims be decided by a jury.
