North Bergen Police Dispatcher Among Two Killed in Tonnelle Avenue Crash Under State Investigation

NORTH BERGEN, N.J. — A violent crash late Sunday night, September 28, on Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen left two young men dead, including a North Bergen Police Department dispatcher. The incident is now under investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, as required whenever a civilian death occurs during a law enforcement encounter.

According to officials, at approximately 11:18 p.m., a North Bergen police officer in a marked patrol car began following a Honda Accord after observing a traffic violation near 70th Street and Tonnelle Avenue. As the officer trailed the Accord, the vehicle collided with a Toyota Corolla near 50th and 51st streets.

The crash killed Joseph Aziz, 20, of Jersey City, who was driving the pursued Accord, and Bryan Rivera, 24, of Jersey City, who was driving the Corolla. Rivera was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rivera identified as police dispatcher

Family members confirmed that Bryan Rivera worked as a dispatcher for the North Bergen Police Department and was enrolled in the police academy at the time of his death. A GoFundMe campaign organized by relatives described him as “kind, respectful, and full of life,” adding that “his future was so bright, and his loss leaves an emptiness that words cannot fully capture.”

Rivera’s younger brother Christopher Rivera was a passenger in the Corolla and sustained severe injuries, including fractured ribs, spinal and neck trauma, and a deep torso wound requiring surgery. He remains hospitalized in critical condition. Two of Christopher’s friends, also passengers, were seriously injured.

Pursuit questions under Attorney General’s guidelines

One key issue under review is whether the officer’s actions complied with New Jersey Attorney General’s guidelines on police pursuits. Under current rules, law enforcement officers in New Jersey are not authorized to initiate vehicle chases with lights and sirens for traffic violations or other nonviolent offenses, due to the extreme risks to public safety.

At this time, it is not publicly known whether the North Bergen officer used lights and sirens or conducted the pursuit silently. If emergency equipment was activated, investigators will need to determine whether that decision violated state policy.

The Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) is leading the investigation to establish the sequence of events and whether the officer acted within the bounds of the law.

Aftermath and community mourning

The crash shut down all lanes of Route 1 & 9 / Tonnelle Avenue between 44th and 51st streets overnight as emergency crews worked at the scene.

Community members and colleagues have expressed shock and grief over Rivera’s death. Support has poured in to assist the family with funeral and medical expenses for Christopher and the other injured passengers.

Ongoing investigation

The Attorney General’s Office has not released further details as the investigation continues. Key unanswered questions include whether the officer’s pursuit was consistent with state restrictions and whether Rivera could have avoided the crash if not for the actions of the fleeing vehicle and the police officer’s involvement.

For now, North Bergen mourns the sudden loss of a dispatcher who had been preparing to serve as a sworn officer, while the state determines whether the pursuit adhered to—or violated—the strict limits placed on police chases in New Jersey.