A Saddle Brook police officer was struck by a vehicle while conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 80 early Sunday, and the driver kept going, according to police. The collision happened just after 4:35 a.m. in the eastbound lanes near Exit 62.
Saddle Brook Police Chief John A. Zotollo, Jr. confirmed that an officer was struck during the stop, but referred additional questions to the New Jersey State Police, as reported by Daily Voice. Preliminary police reports described the suspect vehicle as a white four-door sedan that struck the officer while he was outside his patrol car before fleeing eastbound, according to RLS Media. Basic and advanced life support units responded to the scene near Exit 62, the outlet reported.
State Police Handling Questions
Zotollo deferred detailed questions to the New Jersey State Police. The identity and current medical condition of the injured officer have not been released, nor has the driver of the sedan been identified or located as of Sunday morning.
The stretch of I-80 where the stop occurred is near the Garden State Parkway interchange, according to NYCRoads. Exit 62 connects I-80 with the Parkway and local roads.
State's Move Over Law Carries Real Penalties
New Jersey's Move Over Law, codified at N.J.S.A. 39:4-92.2, requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with flashing lights to shift into a non-adjacent lane or slow below the posted speed limit; violations carry fines between $100 and $500, per the Ocean County Sheriff's Office. The law was enacted in 2009 after New Jersey State Trooper Marc Castellano was struck and killed while on duty on Interstate 195, according to Stafford Township, and it has since been expanded to cover tow trucks and highway maintenance crews.
If the driver who struck the Saddle Brook officer is identified, the penalties could extend well beyond a traffic ticket. Under New Jersey Statute 39:4-129, a driver who knowingly leaves the scene of an accident resulting in injury or death faces fines of $2,500 to $5,000, up to 180 days in prison, and a mandatory one-year license suspension for a first offense, according to Justia. Additional criminal charges under Title 2C may apply if serious bodily injury occurred, though it remains unclear whether the fleeing driver has been located or identified.
A Familiar Stretch of Highway, A Department Under Scrutiny
This isn't the first serious incident near Exit 62. In June 2023, an overturned dump truck on eastbound I-80 near the same exit caused a multi-vehicle pileup that spilled gravel and fuel across the roadway and required firefighter extrications, shutting down express lanes and damaging the highway divider, according to Daily Voice.
The department has also faced its own recent turbulence. In July, Saddle Brook Police Officer Attilio Dente was suspended, per New Jersey 101.5. Zotollo said at the time that the department cooperated fully with county prosecutors during that investigation. Zotollo, who began his career with the department in 1995 and rose through detective lieutenant and administrative captain roles before being named chief on October 1, 2024, has led the department through both that controversy and now this hit-and-run investigation.
Saddle Brook officers have also handled high-stakes highway stops before. In June, a routine traffic stop led to the arrest of two fugitives wanted on multi-state extradition warrants from Nevada and California after officers found forged government IDs, as Hoodline previously reported that arrest. Both suspects were remanded to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack.
A Dangerous Year on New Jersey Roads
The hit-and-run comes amid continuing traffic-safety concerns in New Jersey.
Key questions remain open as the state police investigation continues: the identity and whereabouts of the driver behind the wheel of the white sedan, the current condition of the injured Saddle Brook officer, and whether additional Title 2C charges will follow once the vehicle is located. This is a developing story, and Hoodline will update it as authorities release more information.
