AG’s office investigating fatal Warren County crash during New Jersey State Police pursuit
HOPE TOWNSHIP, NJ (Warren County) — The Attorney General’s Office is investigating a crash during a police pursuit that resulted in the death of motorcyclist on Tuesday morning in Warren County.
According to a preliminary investigation, on Aug. 13, at around 10:19 a.m., a New Jersey state trooper began following an SUV on Interstate 80 eastbound in the area of milepost 11. The vehicle continued eastbound and exited the interstate at Exit 12 onto County Road 521 southbound in Hope Township, officials said.
The SUV subsequently passed another motor vehicle on the left in the area of Dogwood Road and while merging back into the southbound lane, collided with the motorcycle, which was also heading south on County Road 521 at around 10:20 a.m. The impact caused the motorcyclist to be ejected, authorities said.
After the crash, the SUV being followed by the trooper went off the road to the right and stopped in a wooded area, officials said.
Medical aid was administered to the motorcyclist but the adult male was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity is not being released at this time, the AG’s office said.
The SUV driver was transported for a medical evaluation to Hackettstown Medical Center. He was later released into police custody and is being held in the Warren County Jail, officials said.
The Warren County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the SUV driver’s role in the incident.
“The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time,” the AG’s office said.
A 2019 law requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved.
