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Victim Of Hackensack Crash Was Family Man Who Worked As Security Guard

HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- An innocent driver was killed when a chase ended in a crash in Bergen County.

As investigators try to figure out what went wrong, CBS2 has learned more about the driver, a husband and father who lost his life.

Glass glittered on the road and sidewalk on Summit Ave in Hackensack. It's the remnants of a fatal crash that took place around 2 p.m. Thursday.

"John was a great guy. He was a great neighbor. Always friendly to me, always friendly to him. Big shock to all of us here," John Foschino told CBS2's Meg Baker.

The innocent driver, 67-year-old John Parham, was struck by a police cruiser en route to an accident after a police chase.

"Unfortunate that happened like that, only a couple blocks from the house. Just so shocked," Robert Parham said.

Parham was killed on the corner of his own block on Ross Ave. Neighbors said he may have been on his way to work as a security guard in Paramus.

"I don't know how this could have happened because very there's very good visibility up there on top of Summit Ave. How John didn't see lights or hear sirens is beyond me," Foschino said.

The wild police pursuit started in nearby Paramus when a motorcycle driver, Salvatore Deangelis, refused to pull over and took off onto Route 4. Paramus police continued the pursuit for a brief time, then determined it to be too dangerous.

The bike was involved in a collision at Spring Valley Avenue and Coles Street in Maywood, that's when Hackensack Police were dispatched to the scene. They hit Parham's sedan on the way.

"The person was still int he car and they were doing everything they can, working on them, trying to revive them and treat them, and I knew early on that it wasn't good," Latia Wall said.

Parham was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center where he passed away due to his injuries.

The Hackensack officer was also brought to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The crash is still being investigated by the Bergen County Prosecutors Office.

Parham's wife Isabelle was told the news while visiting family in South Carolina. his son is on his way home from California.

 

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