**UPDATE 1:47 p.m. STATEMENT FROM PLAINFIELD POLICE:** On Saturday, December 24, 2016, at approximately 9:25 pm, an on-duty Police Officer was stopped at the red traffic light at East Second and Watchung.
The Officer’s vehicle was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by Israel Valasquez Cruz age 19 from Plainfield, NJ.
Witness statements indicate that Mr. Cruz was speeding. A mechanical inspection of Mr. Cruz’s vehicle shows that the speedometer was locked at 70 mph upon rear-ending the police vehicle.
Additionally, empty alcoholic beverage containers were found in Mr. Cruz’s vehicle. Toxicology reports are pending.
The Plainfield Police Officer sustained injuries and was taken to Robert Wood and was subsequently released. Mr. Cruz, unfortunately, passed away due to his injuries.
We initially could not locate Mr. Cruz’s next of kin as his license, registration and insurance card did not reflect his correct address.
We were subsequently able to locate a family member a few days after the accident via social media.
**EARLIER REPORT: ** A crash that involved a police vehicle on Christmas Eve had a man die according to reports.
There are few official details immediately available regarding the crash, but according to family members that contacted RLS Metro Breaking News, the incident happened sometime overnight on Saturday near the intersection of East Second Street and Watchung Avenue, where a Plainfield Police SUV and a car occupied by at least one person collided.
The crash had emergency responders on the scene where they observed the two badly damaged vehicles with one person in the civilian vehicle badly injured according to family members.
Video and images obtained and observed by RLS Metro Breaking News from the crash scene appeared that the police vehicle was struck from behind because of the massive damage to its rear but the cause of the crash has yet to be officially determined.
The victim, who was later identified as **19-year-old Israel Velasquez Cruz** reportedly died a short time later.
An early Christmas morning request for information from our weekend crew had officials confirm the crash, but did not immediately provide additional information at that time.
A request for information from the Union County Prosecutor's Office has not immediately been returned.
When an official statement from authorities is available, we will bring the information to
Officers involved in the crash suffered non-life threatening injuries according to the reports