***Updated With Identities of Decedent and Officer***
For Immediate Release: June 23, 2021
Office of The Attorney General
– Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General
Office of Public Integrity and Accountability
– Thomas J. Eicher, Director
For Further Information:
Media Inquiries-
Peter Aseltine
609-292-4791
Citizen Inquiries-
609-984-5828
TRENTON – The Attorney General’s Office is investigating the death of a man who was critically injured when his scooter collided with a civilian vehicle in Hamilton, Mercer County, on May 25. He died in the hospital two days later.
The decedent has been identified as Francis De La Cruz Abad, 21, of Trenton., N.J. The police officer who attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop of Mr. De La Cruz Abad is Detective Brian Davis of the Hamilton Township Police Division.
The accident occurred just after 9 p.m. on May 25 near the intersection of Route 33 and Whitehorse-Mercerville Road. Detective Davis was in an unmarked police vehicle when he observed Mr. De La Cruz Abad operating a Yamaha scooter without a helmet. Detective Davis attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop, but Mr. De La Cruz Abad continued traveling westbound on Route 33 and collided with a Dodge Caravan, whose driver was attempting to turn left into the Mercerville Shopping Center from Route 33 eastbound. Mr. De La Cruz Abad was thrown from the scooter and struck the windshield of the van. He was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he died at approximately 3 p.m. on May 27.
The investigation is being conducted pursuant to a law enacted in January 2019, P.L.2019, c.1, which requires that the Attorney General’s Office conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody.
The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.
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