Prosecutor: Trucker in deadly Elizabeth chase had dozens of arrests
Prosecutors say that the driver of a tractor-trailer cab accused of leading police on a chase that left one person dead and two others injured has been arrested 55 times. Daniel Burnam Williams pleaded
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Jul 14, 2016, 5:56 AM
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Updated 3,106 days ago
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Prosecutors say that the driver of a tractor-trailer cab accused of leading police on a chase that left one person dead and two others injured has been arrested 55 times.
Daniel Burnam Williams pleaded not guilty Wednesday at the Union County Courthouse to aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide and reckless aggravated assault charges.
Prosecutors say he had at least eight Social Security cards and had been convicted of several felonies under different names.
He was shot and wounded by police during a pursuit that began July 8 and ended in Elizabeth when the cab collided with a car, killing Jeffrey Oakley and injuring two passengers in Oakley's vehicle.
The truck cab damaged about a dozen vehicles during the chase and eventually crashed into the facade of a building.
Williams gave the judge a Colorado address, but it is not clear why he was in New Jersey on the day of the accident.
People visiting a growing memorial in honor of Oakley say that they are stunned by the suspect's supposed carelessness and disregard for others.
"Pure ignorance. That's all it is. No thoughts for anyone, for human life," says John Pinho.
"When I heard about this, it just tore my heart to shreds," says Kelly Clarke.
Williams has a court-appointed attorney. His bail was set at $2 million.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.
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