2 Washington Township police vehicles struck during Route 42 traffic stop
Police say a car struck one empty patrol vehicle before hitting a second with an officer sitting inside.
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Two Washington Township police vehicles were struck early Thursday while officers were arresting someone during a traffic stop on Route 42 in Gloucester County, according to police.
The crash happened around 1:40 a.m. in the northbound lanes between exits 7 and 7B.
Police said Sgt. Nichols, Officer McNair and Detective Russo, members of the department’s Auto Theft Task Force, had pulled over a vehicle and discovered that one of its occupants had outstanding warrants.
While the officers made the arrest, Nichols returned to his patrol vehicle and sat inside completing paperwork. A 2010 Mercury Milan approaching from behind struck McNair’s empty patrol vehicle, then continued forward and struck Nichols’ vehicle with Nichols still inside, police said.
Nichols reported no injuries. McNair, who was outside his vehicle when it was struck, was also not injured.
Both police vehicles were significantly damaged and could not be driven from the scene.
The driver of the Mercury, a 63-year-old Deptford man, suffered minor injuries.
New Jersey State Police are investigating the crash because it happened outside Washington Township’s jurisdiction.
(Photo Credit: Washington Township Police Department)
