Public safety director pushes back on accounts surrounding fatal Bloomfield Avenue collision
NEWARK, NJ – Newark’s public safety director is pushing back against reports that a police pursuit preceded a deadly crash Sunday, declaring that officers never initiated a chase and warning that inaccurate accounts have compounded the pain for the victim’s family.
Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda issued the statement following the Aug. 9 fatal crash at Bloomfield Avenue and Mt. Prospect Avenue.
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office is investigating the circumstances that led to the fatality, according to Miranda.
The public safety director said some media reports characterized the incident as a police pursuit involving a stolen vehicle that ended with the victim’s death.
Miranda disputed that account.
“No police pursuit was initiated,” he said in the statement.
Miranda said the department was addressing the reports while the Attorney General’s investigation remains underway because of what he described as misleading information surrounding the incident.
He also criticized the publication of identifying information about the person who died.
According to Miranda, the Attorney General’s Office withheld the victim’s name, age and photograph when announcing its investigation, but some news outlets subsequently published that information.
The statement did not provide additional details about the events immediately preceding the crash or explain what prompted the Attorney General’s Office investigation.
Miranda said the Newark Department of Public Safety welcomes the results of the state investigation and wants the circumstances surrounding the death established through that process.
The department also offered condolences to the victim’s family.
Key Points
- Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda said no police pursuit was initiated before Sunday’s fatal crash at Bloomfield Avenue and Mt. Prospect Avenue.
- Miranda disputed media reports characterizing the incident as a police pursuit involving a stolen vehicle that resulted in the victim’s death.
- The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatality.
