While evading police, a vehicle narrowly avoided colliding into a team of firefighters battling a three-alarm fire, putting a dramatic end to the chase and resulting in their apprehension Friday night, Paterson Police Director Jerry Speziale said.
The chase began when Paterson police stopped a sedan around 9:30 p.m. It’s unclear what initiated the stop. The two unidentified suspects drove away on Fair Street and turned down Rosa Parks Boulevard where fire officials were removing their oxygen tanks, sitting and drinking water at the rehab tent. “This could have been catastrophic,” Speziale told NJ Advance Media, explaining how firefighters quickly moved out of the way and no one was hit.
The car attempted to make a quick left into a driveway in order to turn around, but at that point the suspects were surrounded by police, as well as officials from the Fire Department and Passaic County Hazmat Team.