Westfield, NJ – Three Officers Hurt In Pursuit At North Ave & Center St

Westfield, NJ (April 21, 2024) – A man was arrested after a high-speed chase ended in a crash with injuries to police officers in the Westfield area on Thursday, April 18. The accident was reported at the corner of North Avenue and Center Street late that afternoon around 5:10 p.m. The incident started after local officials were notified of a stolen vehicle on Center Avenue.

Officer Donald Picciano responded to the scene and located the suspect vehicle, a 2011 Nissan with Pennsylvania plates. Officer Picciano turned on his sirens and attempted to stop the vehicle, but a chase ensued that went through several local neighborhoods. Two other officials, Sergeant Richard Gill and Officer Joseph Saunders, also became involved in the chase. The pursuit ended after the suspect Nissan entered into the parking lot of a gas station at the corner of North Avenue and Center Street. There was no outlet, and the Nissan was involved in a crash with two state patrol vehicles.

The suspect motorist, later identified as 44-year-old Jason M. Burkett of Cockeysville, MD, was forcibly removed from the Nissan after failing to comply with officials. He is currently facing charges. Sergeant Gill, Officer Saunders and Plainclothes Officer Ryan Weiss were all injured in the crash and treated at the scene before being transferred to Overlook Medical Center in Summit. No additional information is currently available. An ongoing investigation into the crash is in progress.

Our thoughts are with the injured victims and their families at this time. We hope for their full recovery.

Car Crashes in New Jersey

You need to fight for a full recovery after a crash, with more than three million people being injured in over six million car crashes each year. Vehicle collisions continue to be the leading cause of death and serious injury, both right here in New Jersey and across the United States. That is why it is important that you have a plan in place after being hurt in a serious car crash.

You need to be sure that you can make informed decisions after a serious collision. A trained Westfield car crash lawyer can fight for your full recovery. Contact the offices of Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq today at (800) 923-3456.

Notes: Our accident news pieces utilize secondary sources like police and fire accident reports, news articles, and eyewitness testimonies. We have not independently verified this information at Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq. If you find inaccuracies, please contact us for correction. To request post-removal, please inform us, and we will promptly comply.

Disclaimer: This content is not a business solicitation, and none of the information provided should be construed as legal or medical advice. Additionally, the featured image in this post is not from the actual accident scene.