An alleged intoxicated and out of control driver of a tractor trailer who intentionally drove through several neighborhoods in the city, crashing into vehicles, was shot by police but not before he fatally injured at least one person (Possibly others) and caused critical injuries to about three others according to preliminary reports.
The horrific incident began shortly before midnight in the area of East Jersey Street and 3rd Avenue when officers from the Elizabeth and the Union County Police Departments attempted to get an out of control driver of a tractor trailer to stop after they allegedly observed him intentionally crash into several vehicles, then flee the scene.
The out of control truck eventually made its way down Elizabeth Avenue where it crashed into several other vehicles in an attempt to elude authorities reports said.
With cops closely following the vehicle, the tractor trailer came to a crashing halt into a building after striking several vehicles near the 800 block of Newark Avenue at North Avenue.
At some point during the incident, police opened fire on the driver after he reportedly attempted to continue driving the truck after it crashed reports said.
At least one person involved in the crash was pronounced dead at the scene with three others rushed to University Hospital in Newark suffering life threatening injuries.
A vehicle carrying several family members inside (who were just leaving the Stop and Shop Super Market), was struck by the truck sources told RLS Metro. Several of the vehicle’s occupants suffered serious injuries the source said.
The driver was also taken to University Hospital for a gunshot injury but his injuries were not immediately reported as life threatening.
A source told RLS Metro Breaking News that the driver was drunk and angered by recent incidents in Dallas Texas and wanted to vent his frustration. These accounts could not immediately be confirmed by authorities as of 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
Police established a crime scene that stretched about 20 blocks and had about 50 vehicles damaged reports said.
The investigation is ongoing.