[chris]

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

Aziz fled south on Tonnelle Avenue at high speed. Twice, 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, Bryan Rivera, 24, of North Bergen, was driving a Toyota Corolla north on Tonnelle Avenue with three passengers inside. At about 11:18 p.m., the Accord collided with the Corolla on Tonnelle Avenue between 50th and 51st streets.

Aziz and 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 Aziz was later determined to be stolen.

Listen to the 911 calls and dispatch audio for this incident here.