By: Richard L. Smith
An 18-year-old Iselin resident has been identified as the driver involved in a deadly crash that occurred during a police pursuit in Woodbridge Township, state officials announced.
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) confirmed that Mikael Salman was operating a Nissan Maxima shortly before midnight on February 19 when Woodbridge Police Officer Khari Manzini initiated a pursuit.
Authorities say the vehicle was allegedly traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on Route 1.
Roughly one minute after the pursuit began, the Nissan collided with a second civilian vehicle near Gill Lane.
A juvenile passenger inside the Nissan was pronounced deceased at 12:25 a.m. on Friday, February 20. The victim’s identity has not been released due to their age.
The occupants of the second vehicle sustained serious injuries and were transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for treatment.
Investigators also reported that a deceased dog was discovered inside the Nissan following the crash.
Officials stated that the police vehicle was not directly involved in the collision.
Salman, who remains hospitalized with injuries sustained in the crash, has been charged by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office with first-degree aggravated manslaughter while eluding, second-degree vehicular homicide, three counts of second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree aggravated assault, fourth-degree assault by auto, assault by auto (disorderly persons offense), third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree eluding, and animal cruelty (disorderly persons offense).
Authorities emphasized that the charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. No further information has been released at this time.