By: Richard L. Smith
A retired Newark Police Officer lost his life in a devastating highway crash just before the Christmas holiday early Thursday morning in Mercer County.
NJ State Police officials are diligently investigating the accident that occurred at 4:28 a.m. near milepost 59.9 in Robbinsville Township.
Officials said the crash involved a collision between a Mercury passenger vehicle and a Freightliner tractor-trailer, both traveling southbound on the turnpike.
Trooper Troy McNair of the NJ State Police, while withholding immediate identification details, shared preliminary findings with RLS Media.
However, RLS Media independently confirmed that the driver of the Mercury was Brother Toye Muhammad, a retired officer of the Newark Police Department.
Trooper McNair said the tragic sequence of events unfolded when the Freightliner collided with the rear of Muhammad's Mercury.
The impact caused the Mercury to become fully engulfed in flames, veering off the road and striking a concrete barrier.
Muhammad sustained severe injuries and was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Initial reports speculated that Muhammad's car might have stalled/stopped on the roadway. However, officials clarified that the vehicle was not an electric car.
Muhammad is remembered for his service in the Executive Protection Unit of the Newark Police and later commendable service in the Vailsburg section of Newark. He was highly respected and adored for his community policing.
Residents, business owners, and everyone who encountered him spoke highly of his dedication.
At the time of the crash, it was unclear where Brother Muhammad was traveling from. Sources indicated that he served as a driver for The Honorable Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker (D), representing the 28th legislative district.
Speculations are rife about whether Muhammad had just completed duties for Assemblywoman Tucker before the incident.
As of now, Newark City officials and the Police Department have not released any formal statements regarding the tragedy.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with NJ State Police yet to provide additional information.
The community mourns the loss of a figure known for his service and connection to the people as they await further details on this unfortunate incident.