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Truck Driver In Custody After NJ Police Chase That Left 3 Injured, 1 Dead

ELIZABETH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A truck driver has been charged with second-degree manslaughter after damaging around a dozen cars in a police chase that left three people injured and one dead.

According to police Danny Clyde Bumam, 57, was driving a commercial tractor down First Street and Elizabeth Avenue at around midnight Saturday morning when he struck one car with a passenger inside, CBS2's Steve Langford reported.

After striking the car, Bumam continued barreling down the road and was eventually confronted by a police officer. Police officials say the officer used his gun and shot Bumam during the encounter. 

Baumam continued driving, smashing his truck into several parked cars on North Broad Street and through a barricade set up by police in an attempt to stop the vehicle. He then crashed into another parked car on Newark avenue, injuring two passengers and instantly killing another, police said.

"He hit the car, he swung around and piled the rest of the cars right up against the building," one witness told 1010 WINS' Roger Stern. "One of them was my fiance's."

At least two people were taken to the hospital as a result of the accident. According to police, Bumam is in stable condition with a gunshot wound. 

"Bodies all over the place. People running and just the noise that it made. It was like a bomb," another witness said. "I did not know what to think. I could not think that a truck could do that much damage."

Authorities believe the truck driver may have been intoxicated at the time of the incident, WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported.

Witnesses say the incident started at a Power Gas station on Newark Avenue near Parker Street, CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported.

The names of the victims have not been released.

The Union County Prosecutor's office is now handling the investigation. Burnam is charged with second-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, and second-degree reckless aggravated assault. His bail is set at $2 million.

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