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On September 28, 2025, North Bergen Police Lieutenant Jason Appello was driving north on Tonnelle Avenue in a marked police vehicle. Near 70th Street and Tonnelle Avenue, he made a U-turn, started southbound, activated the vehicle's emergency lights, and began following a Honda Accord driven by Joseph Aziz, 20, after the Accord was allegedly involved in a traffic violation at 69th Street and Tonnelle Avenue.

Mr. Aziz fled southbound on Tonnelle Avenue at a high speed. In two separate instances, he passed several vehicles in the southbound lane and drove into the northbound lanes of oncoming traffic. In the area of 51st Street and Tonnelle Avenue, he continued in the oncoming lane.

At the same time, a Toyota Corolla driven by Bryan Rivera, 24, with three passengers inside, was traveling northbound on Tonnelle Avenue. At about 11:18 p.m., the Accord collided with the Corolla on Tonnelle Avenue between 50th and 51st streets.

Mr. Aziz and Mr. Rivera were seriously injured and later pronounced deceased. One passenger in the Accord and three passengers in the Corolla were taken to a hospital for treatment. The Honda Accord driven by Mr. Aziz was later determined to be stolen.

Watch the video of this incident here.