At 12:40pm on Sunday, November 7, 2021, officers from the Princeton Police Department received a report of an attempted vehicle theft on the 100 block of Clover Lane. Witnesses allegedly reported seeing 3 people flee in a Jeep Grand Cherokee after attempting to steal a vehicle.
Shortly thereafter, the Grand Cherokee was seen heading west on Clover Lane, purportedly followed by a Land Rover that had just been stolen from a residence on Dodds Lane. Officers pursued the Land Rover while the Grand Cherokee fled in another direction.
The Land Rover is then alleged to have accelerated at a high rate of speed. Officers attempted to effectuate a motor vehicle, but were forced to terminate the pursuit because of the reckless manner in which the Land Rover was being driven. The Land Rover was later found abandoned in Newark.
At 1:09pm, authorities then received a report of a motor vehicle crash on Princeton-Kingston Road, involving the Grand Cherokee, which it was later determined had been stolen from Pequannock. The investigation revealed that the 15-year old driver of the stolen Grand Cherokee crossed over the double yellow line and struck another vehicle head-on. The 15-year old driver and the driver of the other vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene. A 14-year old passenger in the Grand Cherokee was taken to a local hospital and remains in critical condition. The teens were both from Newark. For more information about the incident, the NJ.com article can be found here.
It has not yet been determined whether charges will be filed against the 14-year old teen passenger of the Grand Cherokee. Even though the teen was merely a passenger in the vehicle, if the State can prove the existence of a “conspiracy” to steal the SUV, then the teen can be held responsible for all the consequences of that “conspiracy,” including the death of the other driver.
If you or someone you know is facing the possibility of criminal charges under similar circumstances, hiring an experienced juvenile defense attorney is imperative. Contact Alissa D. Hascup, Esq. for an initial consultation, which is always provided free of charge.
