Attorney General’s Office Releases New Information on Events Preceding Crash Involving Serious Injuries in Linden, N.J.

TRENTON — The Attorney General’s Office provided additional details today concerning the circumstances surrounding an encounter with law-enforcement officers that occurred on Monday, October 5, 2026, in the area of East Linden Avenue and Clinton Street in Linden, New Jersey, which resulted in serious injuries to multiple people.

According to the preliminary investigation, at approximately 2:38 p.m., officers from the Elizabeth Police Department observed a gray Jeep Grand Cherokee in the area of Anna Street and Jackson Avenue in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The registered owner of the Jeep had several active arrest warrants. Officers from the Elizabeth Police Department attempted to perform a motor-vehicle stop of the Jeep; however, the driver did not stop. Elizabeth officers followed the Jeep before terminating the pursuit at approximately 2:45 p.m., near the city line between Elizabeth and Linden.

The Jeep continued to operate at a high rate of speed into Linden, and the Elizabeth Police Department notified the Linden Police Department. Linden Police Officer Mikael Diaz located the Jeep on East Linden Avenue. Diaz turned his police vehicle around to follow the Jeep, which continued to speed down the residential street before crashing into a Honda Civic.

Three occupants of the Honda – an adult male, an adult female, and an infant – were seriously injured and transported to a local area hospital for medical treatment.

The Division of Criminal Justice is investigating the law enforcement officers pursuant to the Independent Prosecutor Directive. Both investigations are ongoing, and no further information is available at this time.