According to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, on Monday, shortly after 10:30 a.m., a Jersey City Police Officer conducted a motor vehicle stop of a 2018 Nissan Rogue on Sterling Avenue in Jersey City.
Police say during the stop, the driver identified as Mr. Daquan Edwards, and the passenger, Mr. Nicholas Williams Jr., both fled the scene on foot and were pursued by the JCPD Officer.
According to police, Edwards, 22, and Williams, 21, both of Jersey City, subsequently entered a 2005 Infiniti G35and sped away.
While fleeing, police say, the Infiniti struck a 22-year-old female pedestrian from Jersey City in the area of West Side and Fairview avenues.
Authorities said Emergency Medical Services transported the woman to Jersey City Medical Center where she is being treated for life-threatening injuries. Although her condition has stabilized, police say the unidentified woman remains critical.
After striking the pedestrian, the Infiniti continued traveling and several parked and moving vehicles were struck before a final collision occurred in the area of West Side Avenue and Montgomery Street. Edwards and Williams then fled the scene on foot according to police.
Police arrested Edwards at approximately 11:30 a.m., Sunday on West Side Avenue in Jersey City then charged him with Resisting Arrest by Flight, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Hindering Apprehension and Obstructing Administration of Law.
According to police at around 11:40 a.m. the same day, members of the Jersey City Police Department arrested the alleged driver of the car, Williams Jr., in the area of Montgomery Street and West Side Avenue.
He has been charged by members of the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit with Eluding After Receiving a Signal to Stop from a Police Officer Creating a Risk Of Death or Injury, Assault By Auto, Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended Driver’s License and Causing Serious Bodily Injury, Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting In Serious Bodily Injury, Aggravated Assault Causing Bodily Injury While Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer, and Resisting Arrest by Flight.
Prosecutor Suarez credited the Regional Collision Investigation Unit and the Jersey City Police Department with the investigation and the Jersey City Police Department with the arrests.
The Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit and the Jersey City Police Department are actively investigating this case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/.
All information will be kept confidential.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).