No Charges For Officer In 2019 Crash That Killed Wyckoff Man

WYCKOFF, NJ — A state grand jury won't file charges against a Clifton police officer for his role in a 2019 police chase in which a Wyckoff motorcyclist died as officers pursued.

The June 17, 2019 incident put Clifton Police Officer John Ferraro under investigation for the death of Frank A. Lovato, 20, of Wyckoff.

Ferraro, in a marked police vehicle, attempted to pull over the operators of two motorcycles he suspected were stolen. When they refused to stop, Ferraro pursued them with his lights and siren on, according to the investigation.

Authorities said those motorcyclists, including Lovato, ran through multiple red lights in a commercial district while traveling at speeds of up to 100 mph. The chase lasted 10 minutes, according to law enforcement.

Lovato ultimately sped through a red light at Van Houten Avenue and Broad Street, striking the passenger-side door of a Mercedes sedan that had the right of way, the investigation concluded.

The driver of the Mercedes sustained non-life threatening injuries, and the second motorcylists wasn't apprehended.

Lovato, however, was flung from his motorcycle, and revival efforts proved inconsequential. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:15 a.m.

A 2019 law requires to Attorney General's Officer to conduct investigations into deaths that occur during encounters with law enforcement. Officials must present all such investigations to a grand jury to determine whether the evidence supports an indictment.

This investigation included review of video footage and radio transmissions, interviews with witnesses and autopsy results from the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner.

Lovato, 20 at the time of his death, lived in Wyckoff and was born in Teaneck. According to an obituary, he was the manager of his family's business, LaSalle Landscaping and Construction in Hackensack.

He was remembered at the time by a former teacher as a "sweet, slightly 'impish,' adorable little boy who I had the pleasure of teaching in fourth grade," according to a 2019 Patch report.

With reporting from Josh Bakan.