High-Speed Chase Ends in Crash in West Orange

A Princeton man is in custody after leading New Jersey State Police in a high-speed chase across Interstates 80 and 280 Saturday morning, state police officials said.

Justin Mercer, 20, was arrested after the stolen sport utility vehicle he was driving crashed at Exit 7 off Interstate 280 in West Orange, according to State Police Sgt. Brian Polite.

Around noon, state police had blocked off the exit and on-ramp to Interstate 280 East off Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange. An old model, gray Nissan Pathfinder was propped on a tow truck, surrounded by state police cars. The sports utility vehicle had visible damage to the front, left side with all four tires blown out.

The chase began shortly before 11 a.m. when state police attempted to stop a stolen car traveling east bound on Interstate 80 in Allamuchy Township in Warren County, N.J. Polite said the car began to "take off" once police activated their emergency lights.

The origin of the stolen car is not yet known.

The sports utility vehicle continued at high speeds down Interstate 280, Polite said and crashed while attempting to exit in West Orange. Details on the collision were not immediately available, but Polite said no state police were injured in the incident.