The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office had identified the two people killed in a North Bergen crash Sunday, one of which was a local dispatcher training to be a police officer, as well as the police lieutenant who was involved in the incident.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The civilian drivers who died during the incident have been identified as Joseph Aziz, 20, of Jersey City, and Bryan Rivera, 24, of North Bergen, the dispatcher who was in training to become a police officer, the AG’s Office said this evening.
According to the preliminary investigation, North Bergen Police Lt. Jason Appello, who was driving a marked police vehicle, began following a Honda Accord driven by Aziz after the Accord was allegedly involved in a traffic violation at the intersection of 70th Street and Tonnelle Avenue.
Approximately one minute later, at 11:18 p.m., the Accord collided with an uninvolved Toyota Corolla driven by Mr. Rivera on Tonnelle Avenue, between 50th and 51st Streets.
Aziz and Rivera were seriously injured in the collision and were later pronounced deceased. One passenger in the Accord and three passengers in the Corolla were all taken to a hospital.
The passenger in the Accord has been released from the hospital, but the passengers in the Corolla remain in the hospital.
An ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability into the circumstances that led up to and transpired during this incident, and no further information is being released at this time.
Rivera and his family are seeing a groundswell of support from the local community via GoFundMe, where a page has already raised $17,410 towards their $45,000 goal as of 6:50 p.m. Tuesday.
“Brian was truly a good kid — kind, respectful, and full of life. He had a heart of gold and was loved by so many. Whether it was with his family, friends, or community, he always brought joy and light to those around him,” his cousin Jacqueline Aguilar wrote in the page description.
“He was just months away from fulfilling his dream job and beginning to help provide for his family. His future was so bright, and his loss leaves an emptiness that words cannot fully capture. His younger brother, Christopher, was also in the car and is currently in critical condition, fighting for his life in the hospital.”
She continued that the funds raised will go towards Rivera’s funeral and memorial, his brother Christopher’s hospital bills, and for general support for the Rivera family during this difficult time.
