Two men driving north in the southbound lanes of Route 1 & 9 fled from police before crashing into an Elizabeth gas station.
Linden police say a Newark man led officers on a chase going the wrong way on Routes 1 & 9. (NJ Advance Media file photo) LINDEN -- A Newark man remained in custody today after leading police on a miles-long chase while speeding north in the southbound lanes of Routes 1 & 9 early Saturday, authorities said.
Sharik Wright, 33, was arrested after he crashed the car he was driving when he struck another vehicle and ran into a barrier for a gas station pump in Elizabeth, police said.
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At 2:33 a.m. Saturday, officers saw a 2001 Nissan Maxima going north in the southbound lanes of the highway and nearly colliding with a tractor-trailer at South Park Avenue, police Capt. James Sarnicki said.
He said officers turned on the lights and sirens on their cruiser and pulled behind the Maxima to stop it, but the driver sped away.
The officers pursued the Maxima into Elizabeth, where it struck another vehicle then hit the pump barrier, Sarnicki said.
A passenger in the car, David Jones, 27, also of Newark, was charged with obstruction police.
Sarnicki said Wright and Jones attempted to run away, but were quickly apprehended.
Wright was being held on $150,000 bail and charged with eluding, aggravated assault and resisting arrest. Jones' bail was set at $1,000.
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