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Michael Ceddia, Jr.

Age : 76

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/13/2024

Location : Route 80

City : Hope Township

County : Warren

State : New Jersey

Agency : New Jersey State Police

Officer(s) :Christopher Bird

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/13/2024, at approximately 10:19 a.m., New Jersey State Police Trooper Christopher Bird attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a Ford Explorer traveling east on Interstate 80 near milepost 11. Bird activated his emergency lights and siren, but the driver continued east at high speed, used the highway shoulder and exited at Exit 12 while Bird pursued. The Explorer then traveled south on County Road 521 through Hope Township. The publicly released investigation did not specify the traffic violation that prompted Bird to initiate the stop.
At approximately 10:20 a.m., the Explorer moved into the opposing lane to pass another vehicle near Dogwood Road. As it returned to the southbound lane, the Explorer struck a motorcycle operated by 76-year-old Michael J. Ceddia Jr. Ceddia was a bystander traveling on County Road 521 and was not involved in the reason for the traffic stop or pursuit. The impact threw him from the motorcycle. The Explorer then left the roadway and came to rest in a wooded area. Emergency personnel attempted to aid Ceddia, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability investigated the pursuit because Ceddia died during an encounter involving law enforcement. Investigators reviewed Bird’s body-worn camera, patrol-vehicle dashboard video, police radio transmissions, witness statements and Ceddia’s autopsy findings. The Attorney General’s Office later released video from the pursuit after first allowing Ceddia’s family to view the recordings.
The evidence was presented to a state grand jury, which voted on 05/20/2025 not to file criminal charges against Trooper Bird. The Attorney General’s Office announced that the grand jury found no basis for criminal prosecution arising from Bird’s initiation or continuation of the pursuit. The matter remained subject to any separate administrative review of Bird’s compliance with New Jersey State Police policy.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2024/08/14/motorcyclist-killed-state-police-pursuit-warren-county-nj/74804167007/
https://www.tiogapublishing.com/news/state/authorities-id-drivers-nj-state-trooper-connected-with-fatal-crash/article_75ed9651-9095-5909-a588-e66abbd25fb7.html
https://www.njoag.gov/update-ags-office-identifies-the-drivers-and-new-jersey-state-trooper-connected-with-fatal-crash-during-police-pursuit-in-hope-township-n-j/
https://www.njoag.gov/state-grand-jury-declines-to-criminally-charge-state-trooper-in-connection-with-august-13-2024-fatal-crash-during-police-pursuit-in-hope-township-n-j/
https://wrnjradio.com/state-grand-jury-declines-to-charge-trooper-in-fatal-warren-county-pursuit-crash/
https://wrnjradio.com/pennsylvania-man-sentenced-to-18-years-for-aggravated-manslaughter-in-fatal-warren-county-pursuit-crash/