Maplewood Man Dies in Crash After High-Speed Chase

Updated: The article now reflects the fact that Coleman was riding a stolen motorcycle. State police say that the motorcycle was reported stolen in 2008.

A Maplewood man was killed at the culmination of a high-speed pursuit involving police from several jurisdictions through several counties early Tuesday morning. The man, David F. Coleman Jr., 23, was riding a stolen motorcycle in Newark and was pursued by police until crashing into the guardrail on the Interstate 287 northbound entrance ramp in Bedminster, state police said.

According to State Police in Somerville, the pursuit began on Interstate 78 in Newark and reached speeds up to 130 miles per hour before the fatal crash on I-287 North at 4:06 a.m. State police later said the stolen vehicle was a Suzuki motorcycle.

Multiple police agencies, including officers from Bernards Township, Chatham and New Providence were involved in the pursuit along I-78 westbound, state police said. No officers were injured, state police said.

The chase originated in Newark, and crossed police jurisdictions several times, state police said. The motorcycle driver exited and re-entered I-78 westbound at several points, police said.

Police reported that authorities aren't sure how fast the motorcyclist was traveling when he attempted to negotiate the turn on the ramp heading to I-287 northbound, and fatally crashed into the left guardrail.