Family severely injured in crash following police chase in Linden

LocalWeatherCrimePoliticsToll of CommutingFair or Mostly Clear58°LIVELocalWeatherCrimePoliticsToll of CommutingFamily severely injured in crash following police chase in LindenThe crash happened on East Linden Avenue, where neighbors said police were chasing the driver of a gray SUV. Witnesses said the driver was attempting to evade police.Christine Queally

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The crash happened on East Linden Avenue. Neighbors told News 12 that police were chasing the driver of a gray SUV. Witnesses said the driver was attempting to evade police.

Video from the scene shows a police cruiser traveling down the one-way street with its lights and sirens activated. Moments later, a small sedan pulls into the roadway behind it. Seconds afterward, a loud crash can be heard.

Witnesses said two cars were hit – the sedan and a second vehicle.

The impact of the crash spun the sedan around, pushed it backward and left it with significant damage. The gray SUV also sustained heavy damage in the collision.

One of the vehicles struck was carrying a family, including a baby, according to witnesses. A child safety seat could be seen in the roadway near the crash scene following the impact.

Both vehicles came to rest along East Linden Avenue, where the extent of the damage remained visible hours later.

"He hit us, and then he went on to oncoming traffic and hit the small sedan with the mother, father and baby in it. Spun that car around and the police pulled up, drew their guns, got the individual out," said John Cieri, whose vehicle was the first to be hit in the crash. "You don't ever get away with this. I don't care what you did, just pull…over."

Police say a fourth person – an adult – is being treated for injuries not considered life- threatening.

There is no state law explicitly prohibiting police from chasing suspects in New Jersey. Instead, officers can make a judgment call on when to initiate a chase if they reasonably believe the person they're chasing has committed a crime or is a threat to public safety.

"It's not worth it if the police chase is going to end up like this. If, God forbid, that baby doesn't pull through, that man or that woman doesn't pull through," said neighbor Natalie Evertsz. "I don't think it was worth the chase."

News 12 reached out to the Linden Police Department for comment regarding security camera video of the crash, and they said that a Linden police car was not involved in the crash itself.

The circumstances surrounding the pursuit and crash remain under investigation by the Union County Police Department.

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