The early-morning calm was shattered around 8 a.m. on Wednesday when federal immigration enforcement officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tried to stop a gray van on Shanley Avenue during an ongoing investigation.
From the moment the driver refused to pull over, the encounter turned into a fast-developing and dangerous street pursuit that raced through neighborhoods still digging out from a recent snowstorm.
According to city officials, the van fled at speed as the agents attempted to pull it over. Witnesses and police later said the pursuit continued until the van smashed into other cars at the busy intersection of Clinton Avenue and 10th Street.
At least three vehicles were involved by the time the dust and debris settled.
Among the cars struck was a ride-share carrying three minors who were on their way to school. Police, city officials and local news outlets reported that two of the passengers were 15-year-olds and the third was 12.
All three were promptly taken to University Hospital after complaining of pain and showing signs of injury. Their injuries were characterized as non-fatal but serious enough for medical evaluation.
Witness Describes ‘Hysterical’ Child and Limping Boy
Witnesses described the aftermath as frightening and chaotic.
One bystander, Shemar Davis, said the children inside the rideshare vehicle had nothing to do with the enforcement operation yet became victims of the crash.
He recalled seeing a young girl crying uncontrollably after the impact.
“I don’t know exactly her age,” Davis said, “but she was crying hysterically.”
He also described a young boy who appeared injured.
“The little boy was limping the whole time,” Davis explained, noting that the child appeared to have hurt his foot during the crash.
Officials later confirmed that at least two minors, a 15-year-old and a 12-year-old, were inside the vehicle that was struck. Both children were simply traveling to school when the chase unfolded around them.
‘Innocent People Were in Those Cars’
Angry residents gathered near the crash site shortly after the incident, frustrated and angered that innocent people had been put in danger.
Video from the scene shows bystanders confronting agents and questioning how such a pursuit could take place in a busy residential area during the morning rush.
One witness shouted that innocent people were in the cars and that the situation could have been far worse.
Many residents argued that the pursuit itself created the dangerous conditions that led to the crash.
Mayor Baraka Signs Order Restricting ICE Operations
The incident quickly drew the attention of Newark’s mayor, Ras Baraka, who responded within hours by signing an executive order aimed at limiting how federal immigration enforcement operates inside the city.
Baraka said the order is designed to make it more difficult for ICE to conduct certain enforcement activities within Newark’s public spaces.
Under the directive, ICE agents will face restrictions when attempting to enter public buildings unless they present proper warrants tied to criminal investigations.
The order also instructs city employees to act as legal observers whenever ICE operations occur. Workers are required to document what they see, including agent behavior and identifying details such as badge numbers.
Officials say the goal is to create oversight and transparency whenever federal agents conduct enforcement actions in the city.
Baraka suggested the crash demonstrated how quickly federal operations can create unintended consequences for local communities.
He warned that situations like the one in Newark underlined the need for safeguards and accountability.
City Seeks State Review
City leaders are also encouraging state officials to review the police report from the crash and examine whether any violations occurred during the pursuit.
The mayor’s office said the documentation gathered from witnesses and city personnel could be sent to the governor’s office for further review.
Residents who witnessed the crash say the situation could easily have turned even more tragic.
The presence of schoolchildren in the struck vehicle has intensified concerns about public safety during law enforcement chases in densely populated neighborhoods.
In the wake of the crash and the mayor’s response, the story has touched off wider debate about the intersection of federal enforcement priorities with municipal safety policies, and whether agencies like ICE should be bound by the same pursuit restrictions that apply to local police in residential neighborhoods.
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