NJ AG's Office Releases Video of Fatal Vehicle Collision

AG: New Jersey News

Filed March 17th, 2026

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) has released video footage related to a fatal motor vehicle collision that occurred on November 9, 2025. The release is part of an ongoing investigation into the law enforcement encounter that led to the fatality.

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What changed

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) has released mobile video recorder and surveillance footage pertaining to a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on November 9, 2025, in West Deptford, New Jersey. The deceased, Jose M. Martinez, died during an encounter initiated by West Deptford police responding to a call about intoxicated individuals. The footage release follows OPIA's investigation into the incident, which involved a vehicle speeding away from officers, disregarding a traffic signal, and colliding with Mr. Martinez's car.

This release is mandated by Attorney General policies aimed at ensuring transparency in fatal police encounters. While the document does not specify immediate actions for regulated entities, it highlights the importance of transparent investigations and public access to footage in such incidents. The investigation is ongoing, and the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office is involved. The public release was preceded by a review of the recordings by the victim's family representatives.

What to do next

Review OPIA policies on the release of footage from fatal police encounters.
Monitor ongoing investigation updates from the NJ AG's Office and GCPO.

Source document (simplified)

UPDATE: AG’s Office Releases Video from Fatal Vehicle Collision in West Deptford, N.J., on November 9, 2025

For Immediate Release: March 17, 2026

Office of The Attorney General
– Jennifer Davenport, Attorney General
Office of Public Integrity and Accountability
– Eric L. GIbson, Executive Director

For Further Information:

Media Inquiries-
Dan Prochilo
OAGpress@njoag.gov

TRENTON — The Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) today released mobile video recorder and surveillance footage relating to a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred November 9, 2025, in West Deptford, New Jersey. The civilian who died during the encounter was previously identified as Jose M. Martinez, 42, of Lindenwold, New Jersey. This law enforcement encounter is under investigation by OPIA. The footage is being released pursuant to policies established by the Attorney General to promote the fair, impartial, and transparent investigation of fatal police encounters. Representatives of Mr. Martinez’s family were given an opportunity to review the recordings prior to their public release.

According to the investigation, at approximately 6:00 p.m., officers from the West Deptford Police Department responded to a call received through police dispatch reporting two apparently intoxicated males. Patrolman Conor Goggin was operating a marked police vehicle when he activated his emergency lights in an attempt to stop a car matching the description of the vehicle described on the call. The driver of that car sped off at a high rate of speed. The speeding car disregarded a traffic signal and proceeded into the intersection of Hessian and Red Bank Avenues. The speeding car then collided with another car, driven by Mr. Martinez and occupied by a rear seat passenger. Mr. Martinez (also known as Jose M. Martinez-Peguero) was killed in the crash and his passenger sustained a leg fracture.

The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office (GCPO) is prosecuting the driver of the speeding car that collided with Mr. Martinez’s vehicle. That individual has been identified as 24-year old George Linard. He was previously identified in a complaint-warrant issued by the GCPO by another name, based on a driver’s license that he provided. However, as alleged by the GCPO, this license was fraudulent. A Gloucester County grand jury indicted Linard on two counts of aggravated manslaughter (1st degree), eluding (2nd degree), death by auto (2nd degree), four counts of aggravated assault (2nd degree), and one count of fraudulent possession of a government license (4th degree).

The charges and allegations against Linard are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The recordings are available to view here: https://njoag.box.com/s/xo8ue398irhu6xangjhi35hpwf27o4sf

The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.

N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved.

Further information about how fatal police encounters are investigated in New Jersey under the Independent Prosecutor Directive is posted on the Attorney General’s website here.

Note: Members of the press can email the OAG Communications Office to obtain a link to download the recordings.