Freddie Wright, 24, of Newark, had pleaded guilty to eluding and related offenses in connection with the Aug. 11, 2014 incident Watch video
NEWARK -- With speeds exceeding 100 mph, Freddie Wright led police on a chase in a stolen Jeep between Essex and Somerset counties, crashed into three vehicles and caused Route 287 to be shut down during rush hour. One of his passengers was eight months pregnant at the time.
Before Wright was sentenced on Friday to 11 years in state prison for the Aug. 11, 2014 incident, Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Giordano said it was a miracle that no one died as a result of Wright's actions.
Giordano said "the conduct here is especially depraved in the extent of the car chase."
Wright, 24, of Newark, received the sentence after having pleaded guilty on Jan. 5 to eluding and related charges. Wright must serve more than nine years before becoming eligible for parole and he will receive credit for nearly a year and a half of time served.
Under a plea agreement, prosecutors recommended a 12-year prison sentence for Wright, but Superior Court Judge Martin Cronin imposed the 11-year term, in part because of the rehabilitation efforts made by Wright while in custody.
During Friday's hearing, Wright apologized and said he was "manning up to what I did."
"I'd just like to say I apologize to everybody," Wright said.
Wright's attorney, Olubukola Adetula, acknowledged the serious nature of the offenses, but also asked Cronin to consider Wright's upbringing and the problems he faced at school and at home.
Those circumstances "contributed towards him going in the wrong direction, Adetula said.
Wright's mother, Bernadette Wright, apologized on her son's actions and also asked the judge for leniency, saying her son was a "totally changed person."
"He's remorseful," she said. "He regrets what he did. I regret what he did."
But Cronin noted how Wright was previously given opportunities to address his issues when he was placed on probation for prior offenses. "I have to look out for everyone else also," the judge told Wright's mother.
Authorities said the incident began in the afternoon of Aug. 11, 2014 on 17th Avenue and South 19th Street in Newark, where a state trooper attempted to stop the Jeep after running the license plates and learning that the vehicle had been reported stolen.
But Wright rammed the Jeep into the State Police vehicle and sped off, authorities said. The trooper broke his hand in the crash, authorities said.
Wright then led police on a chase along Route 78 West, Route 24 West and 287 South, authorities said. During the pursuit, the Jeep reached more than 100 mph, authorities said.
The high-speed chase ended on Route 287 South in Bernards Township after Wright had struck a minivan and a township police car, authorities said. The minivan driver was knocked unconscious and a police officer suffered broken bones, according to Giordano.
Following the crash, the highway was shut down in both directions for several hours.
In addition to eluding, Wright pleaded guilty to aggravated assault while eluding for hitting a civilian victim; aggravated assault while eluding for hitting the Bernards Police Officer; and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries for striking the State Police vehicle and breaking the trooper's hand.
Following Wright's sentencing, charges were dismissed on Friday against his co-defendants - Jakill Young, 24, and Ericka Whitlock, 22, both of Newark - who were allegedly passengers in the Jeep driven by Wright.
Young was charged with riding in a stolen vehicle and resisting arrest charges, and Whitlock was charged with riding in a stolen vehicle, court records show. Whitlock, who was eight months pregnant at the time, gave birth on the day after the incident, authorities said.
Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.