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At 1:15 p.m., Florham Park police officers attempted to stop a stolen vehicle, but the driver refused to comply, according to the Florham Park Police Department. The vehicle was being operated erratically, swerving onto the shoulder and grass before ultimately crashing into a tree at the intersection of Vreeland and Hanover Roads, officials said.
The driver, identified as Brian Joseph Blozen, 50, of Toms River, was pulled from the wreckage and transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for serious injuries, authorities said. A passenger in the vehicle also suffered minor injuries and was transported to a hospital before being released from custody, officials said.
According to the New Jersey Courts website, Blozen — who has 26 pages of various municipal violations — has been charged with second-degree eluding after failing to stop when instructed by police. He is also facing third-degree receiving stolen property, as the vehicle was confirmed stolen, and fourth-degree assault by auto for causing injuries through reckless driving.
Authorities also charged him with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. In addition to these criminal offenses, Blozen racked up a long list of traffic violations, including reckless driving, careless driving likely to endanger a person or property, failure to yield to emergency vehicles, and failure to report an accident.
The New Jersey Courts website further lists multiple additional offenses from March 14, including leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage, failure to pull over for an emergency vehicle, unsafe lane changes, improper passing, failure to observe traffic control devices, disregarding stop sign regulations, and following too closely. He was also cited for speeding in a school zone and driving while intoxicated on school property or within 1,000 feet of a school.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit is overseeing the prosecution of Blozen. Per New Jersey Attorney General Directive 2019-4, the conduct of Florham Park officers involved in the pursuit will be independently reviewed by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), officials said.
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