A crash between a motorcycle and a car or truck puts the biker in serious danger. Some of these collisions happen because of a momentary mistake, while others follow a series of risky maneuvers. When a motorcycle rider from New York City died in a Burlington County collision with a Honda SUV, the evidence indicated that the biker had been involved in an extended high-speed chase with a different vehicle. While the car chasing him was driven by an off-duty police officer, the vehicle was unmarked and its emergency lights had not been activated.
After approximately two years, New Jersey State Police Detective Mark Campagna has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of fourth-degree endangering another person in connection with the crash that killed 24-year-old Omar Kebbabi. Detective Campagna, driving the unmarked police vehicle, was reportedly following Kebbabi along Route 206 in Springfield Township. Investigators revealed that both men reached speeds over 100 miles per hour and made frequent lane changes without signaling.
The high-speed pursuit culminated in a fatal crash when Kebbabi’s bike collided with the Honda, which was making a left turn. It is unclear what precipitated the chase or whether Kebbabi realized that Campagna was a law enforcement officer. However, the charge against Campagna reflects the grand jury’s view that he exceeded his professional authority. Campagna’s failure to activate emergency signals is especially crucial, as it differentiates a sanctioned pursuit from personal, reckless behavior, potentially triggering both civil and criminal liability.
Even in a case such as this one where it appears that the police officer was operating outside of his job boundaries, successfully litigating a wrongful death case against him, and possibly his employers at the State Police, can be difficult. Special rules apply in civil claims against government defendants, including a 90-day window from the incident date in which a notice of claim must be filed.
In cases arising from motorcycle accidents and other types of injury-causing events, Seigel Law is capable of successfully handling the most complex claims. Over 50 years of representing New Jersey clients, we have helped victims recover more than $500 million. If you were hurt, or a loved one was killed, due to the negligent or reckless actions of someone else, please call 201-444-4000 or contact us online for a free consultation. We are located in Ridgewood.