North Bergen Police Dispatcher Identified as Crash Victim in State-Investigated Incident

Brian Rivera, 24, of Jersey City, has been identified by his family as one of two people killed in a crash on Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen late Sunday night, September 28. The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office is investigating the incident.

According to officials, a North Bergen police officer in a marked vehicle was following another vehicle around 11:18 p.m. when the pursued car collided with Rivera’s near 50th and 51st streets. Rivera, who was driving, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Someone close to the family said Christopher Rivera, Brian’s younger brother and a passenger in the vehicle, told relatives that a blue sedan was being pursued by a police car when the crash occurred. Brian reportedly attempted to steer out of the way but was struck moments later. Two other passengers, friends of Christopher, were also seriously injured.

Christopher sustained fractured ribs, spine, and neck, along with a deep torso wound that required surgery. He remains hospitalized in critical condition.

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 described him as “kind, respectful, and full of life,” adding, “His future was so bright, and his loss leaves an emptiness that words cannot fully capture.”

The family is seeking public support to cover funeral and medical expenses. “Any donation, no matter the amount, will make a meaningful difference and will go directly to helping this grieving family during the most difficult time of their lives,” the campaign states.

The crash remains under investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, as required under state law when a death occurs during a law enforcement encounter. No further details have been released.