A traffic stop attempt by Hardyston police turned into a pursuit that ended on Route 23 in Jefferson Township early Wednesday, October 21, where the driver reportedly shot himself in the head. The vehicle remained covered by a tarp into Wednesday morning, snarling traffic on Route 23.
According to a preliminary account reported by Daily Voice, Hardyston police attempted to stop a vehicle Tuesday night, October 20, but the driver refused to pull over. The pursuit continued until the driver stopped on Route 23 at approximately 3 a.m. Wednesday, October 21, where the driver reportedly shot himself in the head, the outlet's source said. The incident ended in Jefferson Township in Morris County.
By Wednesday morning, police had confirmed that a motor vehicle incident caused lane closures on Route 23 just south of County Route 515 in Jefferson, but had not confirmed the reported shooting or the circumstances surrounding it. The driver's condition and which agency had taken the lead on the investigation were both not immediately clear as of Wednesday morning, the outlet's report noted.
Tarp-Covered Vehicle Snarls Morning Commute
Traffic remained heavily backed up Wednesday morning as lane closures continued in both directions on Route 23 near the County Route 515 junction, with the driver's vehicle visible under a tarp at the scene, per the same account. The account also reported major delays.
The Route 23–County Route 515 intersection is near the Morris County border, according to the Sussex County transportation document. State highway corridors in Sussex County carry commuter and tourist traffic.
State Oversight Rules Likely to Apply
Separately, police vehicle pursuits statewide are governed by Law Enforcement Directive 2022-4, which limits when officers may initiate a chase, according to NJ Cops Magazine. Municipal and county agencies forward pursuits found noncompliant with the Attorney General's or an agency's policy to the county prosecutor, while statewide agencies and county prosecutors' offices forward them to the director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability or a designee. The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability reviews matters involving statewide agencies and county prosecutors' offices.
Police Involvement
Hardyston Township police attempted the initial stop, and the pursuit ended in Jefferson Township.
This is not the first time this stretch of Route 23 has drawn emergency response in recent days. Earlier this month, crews cut the roof off an overturned car near Paradise Road to free a trapped driver, with Jefferson Township and West Milford crews executing a complex extrication and medevac rescue.
As of Wednesday morning, police had not confirmed the reported shooting or its circumstances, the driver's condition remained unclear, and it remained unclear which agency had assumed command of the investigation. Commuters in the Jefferson and Hardyston area were still being urged to expect delays around the County Route 515 junction while the scene was processed.
