Crime & Safety

1 Killed: Fatal Crash After Asbury Park Police Attempt Traffic Stop Sunday Evening

Asbury Park Police tried to pull a car over on Sunday evening and the car crashed into a tree, resulting in one death, said investigators.

NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP, NJ — Asbury Park Police tried to pull a car over on Sunday evening in Neptune Township and the car crashed into a tree, resulting in one occupant’s death and three others inside the car being injured.

Because someone died during a police encounter, the New Jersey Attorney General is now investigating.

The car crashed shortly after 7:20 p.m. Sunday at 527 Myrtle Avenue in Neptune Township, said Acting NJ Attorney General Matthew Platkin.

Find out what's happening in Asbury Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Just minutes earlier, Asbury Park Police had responded to Atkins Avenue for a 911 call of gunshots fired. They spotted a car leaving the area and attempted to pull it over, said the Monmouth County Prosecutor.

The car fled and crashed into a tree less than a mile away, at the corner of Washington and Myrtle avenues in Neptune.

Find out what's happening in Asbury Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Two people, a 15-year-old teen boy and Justin Mayes-Wiggs, 33, of Neptune, got out of the crashed car and attempted to run from the scene, said police.

But they were quickly located. The other two occupants of the car were seriously injured and transported to a local hospital; one has since been pronounced dead, while the other remains in critical condition, said the prosecutor.

Two handguns were also recovered near the damaged car.

The 15-year-old boy was also transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries, and his involvement remains under investigation.

The make or model of the car was not released by investigators.

Mayes-Wiggs has since been criminally charged with multiple illegal gun charges, plus obstruction of justice, a disorderly persons offense. He has been taken to the Monmouth County Jail.

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