Two Police Cruisers and Civilian Vehicles Crash on Bellevue Ave in Trenton, NJ

Trenton, NJ (August 24, 2026) – Trenton Police Department officers and emergency medical services responded on Sunday afternoon, August 23, to multiple vehicle crashes resulting from a police response to a stolen vehicle. The initial collision occurred at the intersection of Prospect Street and Bellevue Avenue at approximately 1:35 p.m. 

According to police reports, two Trenton police cruisers collided with each other while responding to assist officers attempting to stop a stolen vehicle. Following the initial collision, one of the police vehicles struck a civilian car that was stopped at the intersection. Emergency medical technicians evaluated the involved detectives at the scene before transporting them to a local hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.

Shortly after, the stolen vehicle ran a red light and caused a separate collision at the intersection of Calhoun Street and Bellevue Avenue. Police officers took the occupants of the stolen vehicle into custody and arranged for their transport to a regional hospital for treatment of their injuries. Occupants in the other vehicle struck at Calhoun Street were also transported via ambulance to a local hospital for medical evaluation.

Authorities are continuing to investigate both collisions. 

We hope everyone affected by these incidents makes a full recovery.

What Are Your Legal Rights After a Collision Involving Emergency Vehicles in Trenton, NJ?

Following a crash involving an emergency vehicle in Trenton, NJ, injured victims primarily have two legal options for financial recovery: claiming no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) medical benefits through their auto policy and filing a formal claim against the responsible government entity or emergency provider. Exercising these rights requires meeting tight notice deadlines, proving fault, and satisfying state legal rules.

For immediate medical treatment and lost wages, your primary coverage comes from Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits through your own auto insurance policy or a household relative's policy, regardless of who caused the crash.

However, pursuing a third-party claim against a public entity or police department requires strict compliance with the New Jersey Tort Claims Act. Under state law, you must serve a formal written Notice of Claim to the public entity within 90 days of the incident, or your right to sue is permanently barred. Once notice is served, the agency has six months to respond before a lawsuit can be filed.

To recover third-party damages for pain and suffering, you must gather critical evidence, such as the official police report, witness statements, and continuous medical records, to establish driver fault.

Financial recovery is governed by New Jersey's modified comparative fault rule, allowing recovery as long as you are 50% or less at fault, with your payout reduced by your percentage of responsibility. Finally, formal lawsuits must adhere to New Jersey's strict two-year statute of limitations.

At The Law Offices of Sander Budanitsky, we help injured people across New Jersey after serious traffic crashes. We review your case, explain your legal options, and help you take the next step after a collision.

Call our personal injury lawyers at (908) 241-3445 for a free consultation.

Note: This post has been prepared using publicly available secondary sources. The facts surrounding the incident have not been independently confirmed. If you believe any portion of this report contains inaccurate or outdated information, please contact The Law Offices of Sander Budanitsky, L.L.C. so we can promptly review and update the content to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this post is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or medical advice. Reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor does it constitute a request for legal representation. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please seek immediate medical care. Any images included in this post are for illustrative purposes only and do not depict the actual accident scene.