Officers are recovering from their injuries
NEWARK -- Authorities on Wednesday asked for the public's help to identify a man who they said was riding an all-terrain vehicle when he caused two police motorcycles to crash.
The motorcycle officers were traveling southbound on Broadway around 3:25 p.m. June 12 when they spotted a group riding off-road four wheel vehicles recklessly and coming in the opposite direction, according to Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.
Officers were trying to conduct a traffic stop when a quad suddenly cut in front of their motorcycles, causing the officers to crash as they avoided hitting the off-road vehicle, authorities said in a statement. The quad rider abandoned his vehicle on Summer Avenue and left the scene.
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Both officers were treated at University Hospital and were continuing to recover from their injuries at home, according to police.
An "intense and in-depth investigation" led Criminal Investigation Bureau Detective Jose Duran to obtain photos of the quad rider who caused the wreck, Ambrose said.
Authorities released the images and anyone with information was asked to call the 24-hour Crime Stoppers' tip line at 877-NWK-TIPS (877-695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877-695-4867). Police said anonymous tips would be kept confidential.
The motorcycle officers were hurt the same day another officer was seriously injured in an unrelated hit-and-run while he tried to issue a parking ticket in the East Ward. A city man faces charges in that incident.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.