A police pursuit in New Jersey ended in a fiery crash early Friday morning. Lori Bordonaro reports. (Published Friday, Oct. 14, 2016)
The chase started in Union, where Elizabeth police suspected the driver of a Chevy Impala was involved in some overnight robberies, police said. When they tried to pull him over, he took off speeding into Elizabeth.
Police lost sight of him, and moments later the driver slammed into a fire hydrant on Morris Street, knocking it to the ground. The driver and his two passengers were trapped inside.
"He had to be going at least 60 mph," said witness Lamont Benjamin. "I knew no way would he be able to turn, and I just hear bang, hit the wall."
Fire crews cut off the roof of the car and pulled everyone out.
Police say 49-year-old Timothy Chambers' license had been suspended and he may have been drinking. One of his passengers allegedly told police they had smoked crack.
All three are now recovering at the hospital. One passenger has a broken arm, the other a fractured hip.
The driver is charged with eluding police. It's not clear if he's retained an attorney.