Man Arrested After SUV Crashes Into Hackensack River Following Interstate 80 Collision
A late-night crash on Interstate 80 East in Bergen County ended with an SUV submerged in the Hackensack River and a driver found hiding underneath a nearby train, according to New Jersey State Police.
Authorities said the incident happened shortly before 10 p.m. Monday in Ridgefield Park. Investigators said a BMW SUV collided with a Land Rover while traveling eastbound on the highway. The force of the crash pushed the BMW over a concrete barrier before it plunged into the river below.
Police said the driver of the BMW fled the scene on foot immediately after the vehicle entered the water. After an extensive search involving several emergency response teams, officers later located the 32-year-old Bergen County man hiding underneath a nearby train. He was taken into custody without further incident.
New Jersey State Police confirmed that the Land Rover driver and a passenger suffered minor injuries in the crash. Both were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. No additional injuries were reported.
Authorities charged the Englewood Cliffs resident with fourth-degree obstruction, fourth-degree resisting arrest by flight, two counts of assault by auto, along with multiple motor vehicle violations. Officials said he was later released pending a future court appearance.
The dramatic crash triggered a major emergency response from multiple agencies across Bergen County. Members of the Ridgefield Park Volunteer Fire Department responded quickly to the scene and launched a rescue boat into the Hackensack River. Firefighters also used an aerial ladder to reach the submerged SUV during the operation.
Emergency officials said marine units from Ridgefield Park, Teaneck, Hackensack, and Oradell were called in to help search the river and confirm that no victims remained trapped inside the vehicle or in the surrounding water.
The Bergen County Regional Dive Team, which includes firefighters from Lyndhurst, Oradell, Wyckoff, and Mahwah, also established a staging area near the riverbank as crews continued the nighttime search operation.
Officials said boats and drones equipped with thermal imaging technology were used to examine both shorelines and nearby areas for anyone who may have been injured or swept away after the crash. Search crews later confirmed there were no additional victims connected to the incident.
The crash temporarily drew heavy emergency activity around Interstate 80 East as first responders worked to secure the area and investigate how the SUV left the roadway.
New Jersey State Police said the investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not yet released additional details about what may have caused the collision.
Sources:
New Jersey State Police
Ridgefield Park Volunteer Fire Department
