Driver Chased Down, Hit Man With Car In Somerset County: Police

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Authorities are investigating two separate pedestrian crashes in Somerset County over the past few days, said Frank Roman, spokesman for the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office.

Around 1:15 a.m. on Monday, North Plainfield police found a 21-year-old Plainfield man in the 400 block area of Somerset Street suffering from injuries after being hit by an SUV, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.

Emilio J. Liranzomercedes, 20, of Putnam Avenue in Plainfield got into a verbal fight with the Plainfield man before trying to hit him with his 2011 GMC Acadia, Robertson said.

The man ran away on foot towards the back of a building on Somerset Street. Liranzomercedes got out of his SUV to chase the man but ended up getting back into the SUV. Liranzomercedes chased after the man at a high rate of speed before hitting him and crashing into a building before coming to a rest in the middle of Somerset Street, Robertson said.

Liranzomercedes tried to run away but was stopped by concerned citizens.

The Plainfield man was taken to an area trauma center where he is listed in critical but stable condition.

Investigators from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART) along with North Plainfield Police detectives responded to conduct the
investigation.

Liranzomercedes is charged with second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree assault by auto, and disorderly persons underage consumption of an alcoholic beverage.

Anyone with information relating to this crash is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-231-7100 or the North Plainfield Police Department at 908-769-2937 or via the STOPit app.

A second crash involving a pedestrian was reported on Saturday around 10:35 a.m. in Bound Brook. Read More: 19-Year-Old Hospitalized In Hit-And-Run In Bound Brook

The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office is investigating both crashes.

Check back as more information is released.

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