Newly released video and police radio transmissions show the moments leading up to a fatal crash in Ewing that claimed the life of a juvenile passenger after a stolen vehicle fled from police and collided with another car.
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has released body camera-related evidence, surveillance footage, and the identities of three Ewing police officers involved in a pursuit that ended in a deadly crash last December.
The fatal collision occurred on Dec. 19, when officers attempted to stop a stolen vehicle being driven by juveniles in Ewing Township. The crash resulted in the death of a juvenile passenger riding in an uninvolved vehicle, according to the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA).
Pursuit began after stolen Kia spotted
According to the preliminary investigation, officers responded at approximately 6:24 p.m. to a report of a stolen white Kia in the area of Clover Avenue.
While on patrol in a marked police vehicle, Officer Edward Lester located a car matching the description of the stolen Kia and followed it for a period of time without activating emergency equipment.
Authorities said Lester eventually activated his lights and sirens while in the area of Coolidge and Pennington avenues in an attempt to stop the vehicle.
“The Kia did not stop,” OPIA said.
Officers Charles Wyckoff and Jason Ulrich later joined the pursuit in separate marked police vehicles with emergency lights activated.
Crash at busy intersection turns deadly
Investigators said the Kia continued driving erratically and at a high rate of speed before running a red light at the intersection of Prospect Street and Parkway Avenue.
While traveling northbound on Prospect Street, the Kia collided with a red Subaru that was traveling eastbound through the intersection.
The Subaru was carrying four occupants.
“A juvenile passenger was ejected from the Subaru after it collided with the Kia and later died from injuries sustained during the crash,” the Attorney General’s Office said.
The remaining occupants of the Subaru suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Kia was also treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Police vehicle struck after crash
Following the collision, the Kia crashed into a traffic signal pole at the intersection.
Authorities said the impact caused the pole to fall onto both the Kia and Officer Lester’s patrol vehicle.
Officer Lester sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated following the crash.
The identities of the juveniles involved in the incident, including the deceased juvenile, have not been released.
Attorney General investigation continues
The fatal crash remains under investigation by OPIA, which is responsible under state law for investigating deaths that occur during encounters involving law enforcement officers.
The release of the footage follows Attorney General policies requiring public disclosure in fatal police encounters to promote transparency.
“The recordings are being released pursuant to policies established by the Attorney General to promote the fair, impartial, and transparent investigation of fatal police encounters,” the agency said.
The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office is handling the separate juvenile court proceedings involving those who were inside the stolen Kia.
No conclusions have been announced regarding the actions of the officers involved, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Key Points
• The Attorney General’s Office released video and identified three Ewing police officers involved in a pursuit that preceded a fatal crash.
• A stolen Kia allegedly ran a red light at Prospect Street and Parkway Avenue before colliding with a Subaru carrying four occupants.
• A juvenile passenger in the Subaru was ejected and later died from injuries sustained in the crash.
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