3 people, including children, injured after police pursuit ends with crash in South Jersey

Monday, August 19, 2024
3 people, including children, injured after police pursuit ends with crash in South Jersey
3 people, including children, injured after police pursuit ends with crash in South Jersey

GLOUCESTER CITY, New Jersey (WPVI) -- A man is in custody after a police pursuit in South Jersey ended with a stolen car crash on Saturday.

The collision left multiple people, including young children, injured.

Authorities say at approximately 6 p.m., Deptford Township police pursued a stolen vehicle into Gloucester City.

The stolen vehicle reportedly struck another car, which then slammed into a home on the 500 block of Morris Street.

Action News was also able to speak to the homeowner, who said the family was inside during the crash. Fortunately, they were not injured.

"Next thing I heard was a big crash, I heard, 'Boom!'" recalled George Mulhern from Gloucester City.

"I just came around the corner 5 minutes before it happened. My grandson was out here playing and I heard the impact so I went out the door to see what happened," added Clarence Morgun from Gloucester City.

Police say an 8-year-old and a 7-year-old, who were passengers in the other car, were critically injured as a result of the collision.

"I saw everybody down there. Two kids -- one boy on the ground, the girl about 10 feet from there," Mulhern said, describing the scene.

The driver of that car, a 24-year-old, suffered minor injuries, authorities say. The children and driver were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

After the crash, investigators say video showed the driver of the stolen car fleeing the scene on foot.

Witnesses told Action News a neighbor in the area chased down the suspect, who was later identified as Joshua Chrismon, until police caught up with them.

Chrismon, 32, of Mount Laurel, has since been charged with reckless endangerment, assault by automotive, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, and other related offenses.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the police.