Two New Jersey State Police Troopers crashed into each other while joining in a pursuit on Sunday, March 20, 2016.
New Jersey State Police cruiser. (File photo)BRIDGEWATER - The two New Jersey State Police Troopers involved in an accident Sunday morning were joining a pursuit when one struck the other from behind, State Police spokesman Lt. Brian Polite said Monday.
The Troopers, one in a marked patrol car and the other in an unmarked car, were traveling north on Interstate 287 near mile marker 22.5 in Bridgewater, just south of Interstate 78, when the accident occurred, Polite said.
They were taken to Morristown Medical Center with "moderate injuries" where they were treated and released the same day, Polite said.
Polite said he wasn't authorized to release their names.
The pursuit began at approximately 7:07 a.m. Sunday when a Trooper attempted to stop a Mazda driven by Alejandra Ruales-Andrade, 22, of Dunellen traveling north on Interstate 287 in Bedminster, Polite said.
Ruales-Andrade, who was reportedly swerving, did not stop when the Trooper activated his lights and siren, he added.
Crash on I-78 causes 8-mile backup
Although one of the Troopers was in a marked vehicle and the other was not, both were aware they were joining together in the pursuit, Polite said.
"The nature of a trooper's job is to get to a location as quickly as possible to provide help to those who are in need," said Polite. "Unfortunately, it can lead to an accident. This is the nature of our job."
Ruales-Andrade was eventually stopped, arrested and charged with third-degree eluding police, Polite said. She was released on her own recognizance pending a court appearance.
In June of last year two New Jersey State Police patrol cars crashed into each other while responding to a motorists' broken down vehicle on Interstate 78 in Union Township in Hunterdon County.
In that accident, where one of the Troopers suffered a shoulder injury, the Troopers were responding "to an active incident" involving a broken down car "in a very hazardous location" in an eastbound lane of travel. While one Trooper was treated at a hospital and then released, both returned to duty by late morning.
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