UPDATE: Suspect Who Led Police on Chase Through Bergen County Towns is Dead

The driver of a stolen vehicle who was shot by police after leading them on a high-speed chase through Lyndhurst and Rutherford early this morning has died, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

Kashad Ashford, 23 of Newark, died from his injuries at 7:05 a.m. at Hackensack University Hospital after he and 30-year-old passenger Jemmaine T. Bynes of East Orange led police on a high-speed chase.

Ashford and Bynes were allegedly attempting to steal or break into vehicles.

The pursuit came after the duo, who were riding in a stolen Nissan Armada, unsuccessfully attempted to break into another Nissan in North Arlington. After the North Arlington police issued an alert, the Lyndhurst police spotted the vehicle and attempted to stop it.

But Ashford continued to drive recklessly. Rutherford police along with State Troopers also joined in the pursuit, which came to a halt just before 2:30 a.m. when Ashford lost control and crashed into the Ridge Road overpass.

Ashford, who was determined to get away, put the vehicle in reverse and rammed into a police vehicle. Police then opened fire and struck Ashford, who was taken to Hackensack University Hospital where he died just after 7 a.m.

Bynes, the passenger, was unharmed and is police custody.

Police found a loaded .357-caliber Magnum handgun and a ski mask in the stolen vehicle.

Bynes has been charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and receiving stolen property. Bail was set at $100,000.