(10/02/06) NUTLEY ? Two Nutley police officers feel lucky to be alive after they say a career criminal on the run smashed into their cruiser.

Police say 45-year-old David Carroway was fleeing from the scene of a robbery attempt when the incident occurred. Officers had called off the chase when investigators say Carroway came across officers Steven Rogers and Jeffrey Polewka. Police say at that point, Carroway rammed the car. Although the officers had a camera in their cruiser, it wasn?t turned on at the time.

The officers suffered sprains and abrasions, but are fortunate to be alive. Carroway can now add nine new charges to his long rap sheet. Some of the new charges include attempted burglary, eluding police and five counts of aggravated assault. He is being held at Essex County Jail on $400,000 bail.