Knolaisha Washington and Jahvon Parker have filed separate lawsuits against Paterson 5th Ward Councilman Luis Velez over a May 2025 crash. Washington filed her case on October 23, and Parker filed his in April, according to NJ.com.
What the lawsuits allege
The complaints allege Velez drove through a red light before the collision at 1:43 a.m. on May 12, 2025, near Madison Avenue and 12th Avenue in Paterson. As described by NJ.com, Parker’s lawsuit says Velez was driving an SUV south on Madison Avenue when it struck Washington’s sedan, which was traveling on 12th Avenue.
Washington’s complaint alleges painful, permanent injuries, including a weakened nervous system, as well as lost wages and medical expenses. Parker’s lawsuit alleges serious injuries and mental anguish, and says the crash led to medical costs, lost wages and difficulty carrying out everyday activities, NJ.com reported.
Both plaintiffs seek a jury trial and damages, interest and reimbursement of legal fees, according to NJ.com. Washington’s attorney, Marc A. Ross, declined to comment. Parker’s attorney, Alex Pak of Morgan & Morgan, and Velez did not respond to requests for comment, the outlet reported.
Body-camera footage
Separately, NorthJersey.com reported that police body-camera footage from the crash scene had 27 minutes of muted audio, including a moment when Velez was speaking in an officer’s presence.
