Newark police sergeant followed driver who fatally struck teen

On August 9, 2026, in Newark, New Jersey, a 17-year-old pedestrian, Zakiyah Dansby, was fatally struck by a sedan on Bloomfield Avenue. The incident occurred just before 9 p.m. when a Newark Police sergeant, driving an unmarked SUV westbound on Bloomfield Avenue, observed a sedan speeding in the eastbound lane. The sergeant made a U-turn near Parker Street and began following the sedan. Approximately three blocks later, near the intersection of Bloomfield Avenue and Mount Prospect Avenue, the sedan struck Dansby. The sergeant immediately pulled over to render aid, but the driver fled the scene. Dansby was pronounced dead at 9:11 p.m. Later, one person turned themselves in to police.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the crash, while the New Jersey Attorney General's Office's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability is examining the circumstances of the police encounter. No charges have been announced as of now.

Previously, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda had pushed back against claims that the incident involved a stolen vehicle and a police pursuit. In statements on August 12, they clarified that no police pursuit was initiated and the vehicle was not stolen. The city has a strict policy prohibiting vehicle pursuits except under limited circumstances involving serious offenses. The AG's office update provides new details about the sergeant's actions, which had not been previously disclosed. CBS News New York has reached out to the mayor's office for a response to the AG's update but has not yet received a reply.