Jersey City police officers involved in accident with city car in Howell, NJ

Jersey City Police Officers Michael A. Galvez and James P. Lisi were involved in a car accident in Howell, NJ on the night of March 9th, 2015 with a city-owned vehicle.

Image from Google Maps

Image from Google Maps

One driver claims she was traveling in the right lane when her car was struck, a Jersey City police officer said that driver cut in front of the car he was operating.

What is known is that on Monday, March 9th, 2015, at approximately 9:52 PM, two Jersey City police officers – Michael A. Galvez, 39, the driver, and James P. Lisi, 41 – were traveling southbound on Route 9 when a city-owned vehicle they were traveling in struck the rear of a car operated by Kathleen A. Peitz, 59, near West Farms Road in Howell, NJ.

Peitz, who is a Howell resident, claimed she was driving in the right lane when her car was struck in the rear by the vehicle Galvez was operating, according to the police report. In addition, the report indicates that Peitz said she drove away from the accident because no other vehicles were stopping.

Galvez claimed that he was driving in the right lane when Peitz cut in front of him from the left lane with her car, according to the report. He stated that he was unable to stop and rear-ended her vehicle, and that Peitz continued without stopping.

Peitz was eventually pulled over near her home and charged with leaving the scene of an accident.

The report states that both vehicles sustained major damage, and the car Galvez was operating was towed and disabled. Neither driver took a field sobriety test.

Upon a visit to Howell, NJ, Peitz declined to comment on the story to Real Jersey City. Both Galvez and Lisi are affiliated with residences in the Howell area, each property had vehicles parked with what appeared to be State F.O.P. license plates.

Lisi was promoted to the rank of Detective effective December 22nd, 2014, according to the Jersey City Police Officers’ Benevolent Association website.

Real Jersey City has sent Jersey City Spokesperson Jennifer Morrill and Public Safety Spokesperson Carly Baldwin an email seeking comment on the following questions regarding this story:

– Were either Galvez or Lisi authorized to take the vehicle out of the city?

– Did the city send an independent crash investigator to the scene of the accident?

– Were Galvez and Lisi working at any time on March 9th, and if so was it a regular or special detail?

This story will be updated when comment is provided.

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