By: Richard L. Smith
A 19-year-old Brooklyn man is facing multiple charges after New Jersey State Police said he led troopers on a brief pursuit that ended in a chaotic multi-vehicle crash on the Garden State Parkway in Essex County Tuesday night.
According to authorities, the incident unfolded on May 13 at approximately 8:45 p.m., when a trooper assigned to Troop “D” Bloomfield Station attempted to stop a BMW traveling southbound near milepost 149.3 in Bloomfield Township.
Police said the driver refused to pull over, sparking a short pursuit.
During the chase, the BMW allegedly struck a Toyota sedan, causing it to veer off the roadway and crash into a concrete barrier on the left side of the highway. Investigators said the BMW then continued southbound before colliding with a Chrysler sedan.
The chain-reaction crash escalated further when the collision led to an additional accident involving a marked New Jersey State Police Ford troop vehicle, a Hyundai SUV, and a Honda SUV.
Authorities said both the Hyundai and Honda left the roadway and slammed into a concrete barrier on the right side of the parkway.
A Ducati motorcycle traveling in the area was also impacted after being struck by debris that became dislodged from the Hyundai during the crash.
State police said all drivers involved, along with the trooper, suffered minor injuries and were transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The BMW driver was identified as Amani A. Walcott, 19, of Brooklyn, New York.
Authorities charged Walcott with fourth-degree aggravated assault, five counts of assault by auto, second-degree eluding, and possession of a fraudulent driver’s license.
He was lodged in the Essex County Jail pending a detention hearing.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.