By: Richard L. Smith
Kearny police responded to two major incidents Friday night, including the aftermath of a police pursuit that ended with a vehicle crashing into a utility pole and a separate multi-vehicle crash on Route 7 that left one man critically injured.
According to information released by the Kearny Police Department, at approximately 10 p.m. on July 11, officers assisted after the North Arlington Police Department pursued a vehicle from the area of Schuyler Avenue and Belleville Turnpike into Kearny.
The pursuit ended when the fleeing vehicle crashed into a PSEG utility pole near Stewart Avenue.
The driver was taken into custody at the scene.
Kearny police issued several traffic summonses, while the North Arlington Police Department is handling the criminal charges related to the incident.
Due to significant damage to the utility pole, the area was secured as crews from Public Service Enterprise Group responded to make repairs.
Later that evening, at approximately 10:36 p.m., Kearny police were dispatched to an unrelated three-vehicle crash on eastbound Route 7 (Belleville Turnpike) near the first overpass heading toward Jersey City.
Authorities said one male passenger suffered serious injuries in the collision. The victim was airlifted to University Hospital, where he remained in critical condition as of Saturday.
Police said the cause of the crash remains under investigation, and no additional information has been released at this time.