High-Speed Police Car Chase Starts On Rt. 46, Ends On Rt. 3

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Police charged a 15-year-old Newark juvenile with eluding, resisting arrest and possession of a stolen car after he and another driver allegedly led officers on a high-speed chase that began near Route 46 earlier this week.

Authorities said that the chase passed through the towns of Wayne, Totowa, Little Falls, Montclair and ultimately onto Route 3 in Clifton.

According to the Fairfield Police Department, the chase began around 3:50 a.m. on Tuesday, when an officer on duty at Route 46 near the Crowne Plaza hotel allegedly saw a black Infiniti G35 and a white Nissan Rogue travelling at a high rate of speed towards him.

The vehicles – which were allegedly doing 76 mph in a 50 mph zone – got off the highway at the Two Bridges Road exit ramp and proceeded through the red light and back onto Route 46 East, Fairfield police said.

“At this time, the officer attempted to stop both vehicles by activating his emergency lights and siren,” Fairfield police said. “Both vehicles then accelerated and actively attempted to elude the officer.”

The chase then proceeded through the towns of Wayne, Totowa, Little Falls and Montclair, then ultimately onto Route 3 in Clifton. Along the way, several law enforcement agencies from those jurisdictions assisted in the pursuit, Fairfield police stated.

Fairfield police said that it’s believed that the juvenile suspect crashed the Nissan Rogue into the back of an empty cargo fuel trailer being pulled by a semi-tractor near the Main Ave exit in Clifton.

Meanwhile, the Infiniti allegedly continued onward past the crash site. Officers pursued the fleeing vehicle, but decided to discontinue the chase on Route 21, authorities said.

Police at the crash site in Clifton arrested the juvenile and transported him to St. Joseph’s Hospital for treatment. He was returned to the custody of the Fairfield Police Department for processing on his release from the hospital.

According to Fairfield police, both cars were stolen from driveways in Lincoln Park but hadn’t been reported yet. Several other vehicles in the area were discovered burglarized shortly afterwards, but police didn’t specify if the incidents were connected.

Authorities charged the Newark juvenile with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, eluding police and resisting arrest, and also issued him 20 motor vehicle summonses.

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