WOODBRIDGE, NJ — A state grand jury voted Monday not to file any criminal charges against Woodbridge Police Officer Khari Manzini for his role in a fatal Rt. 1 car crash that happened in February, announced New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport.
New Jersey law requires that anytime someone dies during an encounter with law enforcement that all the evidence and videos be presented to a grand jury, to determine if the police officer did anything wrong. After hearing the testimony and evidence, the grand jury finished deliberating Monday and voted "no bill," concluding no criminal charges should be filed against Manzini.
Manzini was pursuing a car driven by Mikael Salman, 18, of Iselin; Salman was speeding on Rt. 1 that night, and Officer Manzini was trying to pull him over.
Salman refused to stop and instead fled from the police officer, who was chasing him with lights and sirens going.
NJ101.5 reported Salman was going more than 100 miles per hour. While driving at that rate of speed, Salman crashed into another car on Rt. 1. His front-seat passenger, Karla Gamero, a 17-year-old Edison High School student, was killed, said police.
Video footage from the crash can be found here: https://njoag.box.com/s/pblntysu82pd4iqt70leyvqx92igifzd The footage is from Manzini's dashboard camera in his squad car, security footage from businesses on Rt. 1 and police radio transmissions.
The night of the fatal crash
Shortly before midnight on Feb. 19, Salman was allegedly driving a Nissan Maxima at a high speed south on Rt. 1.
Woodbridge Police patrol officer Manzini, in a marked patrol vehicle, left his stationary post and attempted to catch up to the Nissan and tried to pull him over.
Salman refused to pull over, said the Attorney General. Instead, he continued at a high rate of speed down Rt. 1 and ran a red light.
Salman's Nissan then slammed into a car in the area of Gill Lane. Salman and his front-seat passenger, Gamero, were trapped in the vehicle and had to be pulled out by local firefighters.
The teen girl was pronounced dead at the scene, and her beloved small dog was also killed in the crash. Here is her obituary.
Salman himself was also hospitalized with critical injuries. The occupants of the second car he hit were also seriously injured.
Manzini's police car was involved in the crash.
Salman is charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter while eluding, second-degree vehicular homicide, assault by auto and other charges for the girl's death.
In April, the Middlesex County Prosecutor offered Salman a plea deal for allegedly causing Gamero's death. Prosecutors offered Salman that he serve 20 years in prison, but he rejected the plea offer. His case has still not been resolved. Stay tuned.
Prior: Dashboard Camera Footage Released In Rt. 1 Fatal Crash That Killed Edison Teen Girl (July)
Iselin Teen Rejects 20-Year Plea Deal For High-Speed Death Of Edison Teen Girl (April)
Iselin Teen Charged With Vehicular Homicide For Death Of Edison Teen Girl (February)
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