Stolen Car Crashes Into Newark Church On Sunday: Cops

NEWARK, NJ — Newark police are searching for the driver of an allegedly stolen car who crashed into the Community Chapel of Christ Ministries building at 387 Hawthorne Avenue on Sunday afternoon. There were nine people inside the building when the vehicle crashed into the front door, authorities said.

According to the Newark Police Department, a driver in a stolen Nissan Altima struck the church around 3:17 p.m. The driver then fled the scene prior to the arrival of police and firefighters and there is no available description of the suspect at this time, police said.

Emergency responders transported two victims to Beth Israel Hospital for evaluation. They were later released, authorities said.

According to the church’s website, it conducts a Sunday Christian education service at 10:30 a.m. and a Sunday worship service at noon.

“While police are actively searching for the suspect, we seek the public’s assistance in quickly locating and removing him or her from our streets,” authorities stated.

An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident can call the department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867).

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Photo: Newark Department of Public Safety