Two Teens Arrested After Stolen Car Chase, Crash on Route 17 in Paramus

Two Bergen County teenagers were arrested Monday after leading police on a chase in a stolen car that ended in a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a police vehicle on Route 17 in Paramus, according to Paramus police.

The Incident

The pursuit began shortly after 12:30 p.m. when Sgt. Michael Mordaga spotted a Hyundai Elantra in the parking lot of the Garden State Plaza mall. Police determined the vehicle had been stolen from Wallington. The driver attempted to evade officers by exiting the lot and heading south on Route 17, driving on the highway shoulder, Police Chief Robert Guidetti said.

The car then struck a tractor-trailer, collided with a Paramus police car, and crashed into the center divider.

Arrests

Sgt. Ryan Hayo arrested the 16-year-old passenger from Hackensack. The 17-year-old driver from Wallington was taken into custody by Mordaga with assistance from Officer Griffin of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department after attempting to flee through the passenger door.

Charges and Evidence

The driver was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault on a police officer, eluding police, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and possession of burglary tools. He also received several motor vehicle summonses. The passenger was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and possession of burglary tools.

Investigators found that the vehicle’s ignition had been defeated and that the teens had been operating it with a USB cable. Burglary tools were recovered from inside the car. The identities of the teens were not released.