Speeding BMW Hits Cop, Crashes After Chase In Passaic Co.: Police

CLIFTON, NJ — A man driving on the shoulder of Route 21 North hit a Clifton police officer and sped away Tuesday morning, according to authorities. The cop avoided serious injury, but the driver faces several charges.

Officers pulled over a motorcyclist at about 7 a.m. Tuesday, just before the Route 46 interchange, according to Clifting Police Sgt. Robert Bracken. While doing so, a white BMW sped through the shoulder, surpassing traffic stemming from the bottleneck, police said.

Clifton Officer George Balkjy approached the oncoming vehicle and brought it to a stop, Bracken said. But when Balkjy began walking toward the driver's side of the BMW, the driver — later identified as Luis Villalba, 21, of Paterson — accelerated and swerved toward the officer, police said.

The BMW hit Balkjy's arm and leg, Bracken said. Balkjy sustained contusions but didn't require hospital transport, according to police.

Meanwhile, police tried stopping the BMW, but Villalba refused to pull over and initiated a chase, authorities said. The pursuit went from Route 46 to Route 20 North, ending when the BMW crashed into the center divider and came to rest on the shoulder, Bracken said.

Villalba was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, eluding and assault by auto. He also received several summonses, which included alcohol consumption while operating a motor vehicle.