EDISON, NJ - The Attorney General's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) on Friday released police radio transmissions, surveillance footage and police motor vehicle recorder video related to a Feb. 20 fatal crash in which an edison teen died.
The driver of the vehicle was previously identified as Mikael Salman, 18, of Iselin. His passenger, 17-year-old Edison High School student Karla Gamero, was pronounced dead the same day. Salman has since been charged with vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter and other offenses in Gamero's death.
According to OPIA's preliminary investigation, shortly before midnight on Feb. 19, a Nissan Maxima driven by Salman traveled at high speed southbound on Route 1. Woodbridge Police Officer Khari Manzini, in a marked patrol vehicle, left his stationary position and attempted to catch up. The vehicles traveled from Route 1 South to Avenel Road, onto Remsen Avenue, and onto Route 35 before re-entering Route 1 South.
About one minute after re-entering Route 1 South, the Nissan collided with a second civilian vehicle at the intersection of Route 1 South and Gill Lane. Local fire crews assisted in removing Salman and his passenger, who were trapped in the vehicle. Salman was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for serious injuries.
Gamero was pronounced dead at 12:25 a.m. on Feb. 20. The preliminary investigation also found a dead dog inside the Nissan. Occupants of the second vehicle sustained serious injuries and were also taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. The police vehicle was not directly involved in the collision.
OPIA is investigating Officer Manzini's conduct, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office is investigating Salman's conduct. Representatives of Gamero's family were given the opportunity to review the recordings before their public release.
Under a 2019 state law, the Attorney General's Office is required to investigate deaths that occur during encounters with law enforcement officers acting in an official capacity, with findings presented to a grand jury to determine whether an indictment against the officer is warranted.
The investigation is ongoing, and no further information is being released at this time.
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