A traffic stop on Newark’s West Market Street erupted into a multi-vehicle crash Monday evening after a 26-year-old Orange man allegedly rammed an unmarked state police SUV, traveled up an embankment and came back down, and struck several civilian cars before being caught on foot. Wolchney Gardere now faces 12 separate criminal charges tied to the chaotic pursuit.
According to Daily Voice, citing New Jersey State Police Trooper II Christopher Postorino, detectives with the State Police Crime Suppression North Unit stopped a black Ford Fusion driven by Gardere at approximately 5:43 p.m. Monday, according to the RLS Media report on the incident. The detectives had their emergency lights activated and wore vests marked police as they approached the Fusion on foot, per that account. Preliminary investigation indicates Gardere then rammed the front of an unmarked Dodge Durango state police vehicle as detectives closed in.
Chase Ends in Embankment Crash
Gardere fled on West Market Street after allegedly ramming the state police vehicle, RLS Media’s reporting states. Police said the pursuit ended after Gardere lost control, struck several civilian vehicles, and traveled off the roadway up an embankment. Coming back down the embankment, he then struck an unmarked Dodge Charger state police vehicle, according to the outlet’s account.
According to the New Jersey State Police 2017 pursuit analysis report, pursuits resulting in crashes increased 12% from 34 to 38, while pursuits resulting in injuries increased from 7 in 2016 to 16. According to the New Jersey State Police 2020 pursuit analysis report, pursuits resulting in crashes increased 86% from 29 to 54, while pursuits resulting in injuries increased from 14 in 2019 to 18 in 2020…