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As of press time, Saddle River Police Officer John Latka has been released from the hospital, while Allendale Police Officer Mark Dunn, Jr. remains hospitalized in critical condition, the NJ State PBA said.
The crash was caused by 18-year-old Joseph Ford, of New York City, who was speeding in a Range Rover SUV the southbound lanes when he rammed the rear of Dunn's patrol car that had stopped to assist Latka on a motor vehicle stop at approximately 10:40 p.m. near East Allendale Road, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.
The impact caused "a four-car chain-reaction crash involving the vehicle stopped by the Saddle River Police Officer, both patrol cars, and the Range Rover," Musella said.
Ford tried to flee on foot but was arrested by officers from surrounding agencies that responded to the crash, the prosecutor said.
The crash left Dunn seriously injured, Musella said. Latka, one of the occupants of Ford's vehicle, and an occupant of the vehicle that was originally stopped were also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, the prosecutor said.
Ford was charged with assault by auto, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, assault by auto, and driving while intoxicated, and was issued multiple other motor vehicle offenses.
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