New Jersey Teen Dies, 3 Cops Hospitalized After Union City Crashes: Reports

UNION CITY, NJ — A high school student died and three Union City police officers remain in the hospital - although they are expected to survive – after a back-to-back series of violent incidents stunned the Hudson County community on Wednesday night, reports say.

On Thursday, the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office said that the first crash took place around 7 p.m., when a 16-year-old Union City High School student on his bike collided with a Union City Department of Public Works garbage truck near Palisade Avenue and 31 Street, pinning the teen under the vehicle.

The teen, later identified as Sean Lemus, 16, of Union City, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 7:45 p.m., prosecutors said.

At this time, no charges have been filed against the driver, who remained on the scene after the collision, prosecutors said.

The incident remains under investigation, authorities said.

While officers stopped traffic in the area to investigate the crash, a pair of motorcycles attempted to zoom through the intersection despite the heavy police presence. One of the bikes struck four officers before smashing into the garbage truck, prosecutors said.

“There was no way a car could get through,” said Union City Mayor Brian Stack, who was on the scene with officers when the motorcycle hit-and-run took place. “The only thing that could have gotten through was a motorcycle.”

Emergency responders treated one of the injured officers at the scene and transported the injured motorcyclist and officers to nearby hospitals. The condition of the hospitalized officers was not immediately available, but they are expected to survive, multiple news outlets reported.

• See related article: Union City Hit-And-Run; 3 NJ Police Officers Injured

The Hudson county Prosecutor's Office announced Thursday that both motorcyclists have been apprehended and face charges.

The rider who struck the officers, Ricardo Suazo, 25, of Paterson, was charged with three counts of Assault by Auto in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1c(1), a fourth-degree crime and one count of Assault by Auto in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1c(1), a disorderly persons offense.

The rider who fled the scene, Aryan Acosta-Reinoso, 24, of Paterson, was charged with eluding, aggravated assault and receiving stolen property (motorcycle).

“My heart goes out to the family of Sean Lemus who died in this tragic accident,” Stack said. “I’d also like to ask everyone to keep the injured officers in their thoughts and prayers."

Send feedback and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: Shutterstock