Middle Township officer injured in Route 47 traffic stop crash

A Middle Township patrolman, 26-year-old Austin Kapurelo, was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle during a traffic stop on Route 47. The driver, 36-year-old Lucio Lopez-Perez, remained at the scene and faces multiple charges, including driving while intoxicated, assault by auto, and violating public health and safety laws.

The incident has triggered a political debate regarding immigration. Representative Jeff Van Drew stated that Lopez-Perez is in the United States illegally, lacks a driver's license, and is subject to an ICE detainer. Van Drew criticized state-level legal defense funds for undocumented immigrants and called on local law enforcement to ensure the suspect is turned over to federal authorities.

This crash marks the fourth time a New Jersey officer has been seriously injured on duty within a single month, a trend noted by the New Jersey PBA.