Suspected thieves flee police, causing fatal fiery crash on Route 9
OLD BRIDGE — One person died after a vehicle being pursued during an investigation into an attempted car theft ended with a fiery crash on Route 9 early Wednesday morning.
The vehicle being pursued by Marlboro police on Spring Valley Road struck several vehicles on Route 9 around 2:15 a.m. that injured three other people not connected to the investigation, according to the Attorney General's Office. The identities of those involved in the crash were not disclosed.
News 12 New Jersey cited unnamed witnesses who said a southbound vehicle on Route 9 T-boned another going across the highway on Spring Valley Road. One of the vehicles caught fire according to RLS Metro Breaking News, which did not cite a source.
The other vehicle went into the woods, according to a witness who spoke to News 12.
The crash is being investigated by the Attorney General's Office, which is required to conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody.
Dangerous Highway
Route 9 was closed for approximately six hours, pushing traffic onto Routes 18, 34 and 79. NJ Transit buses were also delayed.
It was the fifth fatal crash on Route 9 in Old Bridge this year, according to State Police statistics, the most recent less than a month ago.
Rutgers School of Business student Driton Guze, 22, of Old Bridge was killed on October 19 when his Infiniti Q50 crossed the median into the northbound lanes of Route 9 and into the path of a Chevy Silverado near Phillips Drive.
Dan Alexander is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com
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