2 Massive Fires, Deadly Crash, Murder Charge Punctuate NJ’s Weekend

NEW JERSEY – The first weekend in December saw a fire engulf a historic hotel, a blaze at a senior housing complex, and a death on a major Garden State thoroughfare.

Fire At Senior Housing Complex

Several people were hospitalized after a fire broke out at a senior living facility in Trenton on Saturday, authorities said.

The blaze occurred at Trent Center, a large residential community in the area of Greenwood Avenue and Hudson Street, according to Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora.

Eight people were taken to the hospital and two firefighters suffered injuries, Gusciora said.

Three families in the 15-story building were affected by the fire, according to WPVI.

The Red Cross showed up to help displaced tenants, Gusciora said.

The fire started around 1:30 p.m. in a first-floor apartment and spread to another unit, NJ.com reported, noting the complex houses around 150 people.

Fire Breaks Out At Historic Hotel In Middlesex County

On Sunday morning, a fire broke out at the historic Dunellen Hotel and Rathskeller in Middlesex County, officials said.

On Sunday at 12:45 a.m., members of the Dunellen Defender Fire Company 1, were dispatched to 120 North Washington Avenue to the Dunellen Hotel for a report of a fire in the basement, the fire department said.

On arrival of the Dunellen Borough Police and Deputy Chief of the fire department a second alarm, followed by the third was transmitted.

All occupants of the building were evacuated and firefighters began fire-suppressing activities, the fire department said.

Although the bulk of the blaze was quickly extinguished, fire crews chased pockets of fire within the walls and eventually cleared the scene around 4:15 a.m, the fire department said. There were no reported injuries.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Middlesex County Fire Marshall's Office.

Due to the fire, the hotel is temporarily closed.

Man Charged With Murder After Man Is Found Dead On Driveway

A man from Absecon was charged with murder following the death of a Pleasantville man in October, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Jerome Holley, 41, of Absecon was charged with the murder of Mamadou Toure, 45, from Pleasantville on Friday, authorities said.

On October 9, at around 8:41 a.m., the Pleasantville Police Department responded to a 911 call about a shooting in the area of 7 West Pleasant Avenue.

On arrival, police found Toure unresponsive in the driveway with at least one gunshot wound, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Holley has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, second-degree possession of a handgun without a permit to carry, and second-degree certain persons not to possess firearms.

He is currently being held in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending his first court appearance.

This incident is still being investigated by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit and the Pleasantville Police Department.

Anyone with information about this incident or other serious crimes are asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit at 609-909-7666 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Website at ACPO.

2 Charged After Stolen Vehicle Crashes During Police Pursuit

Two people were arrested and charged on Sunday morning after the stolen vehicle they were driving crashed during a police pursuit, Linden Police said.

Shortly before 7 a.m. on Sunday, officers responded to the Aviation Plaza parking lot after receiving multiple calls about a red Porsche driving recklessly in the Aviation Plaza parking lot.

Officers found the vehicle and learned that it was stolen out of New York.

When Officers tried to contact the driver of the vehicle, they fled the parking lot at high speed. Officers then pursued them, but the pursuit quickly ended in the area of W. 15th St., police said.

Minutes later, officers found the vehicle again at the intersection of S. Wood Ave & Route 1. They tried to stop the vehicle, and a second pursuit was initiated. The stolen vehicle fled northbound on Route 1 where it collided with another vehicle at the intersection with Morses Mill Rd. The driver lost control and struck the center median, rendering the vehicle disabled, police said.

Two suspects ran from the vehicle and climbed a fence into the Phillips 66 Refinery. Officers continued to give chase, and both suspects were taken into custody a short time later.

The driver was evaluated on scene and refused further medical treatment.

Marc Pierre, 22, of Maplewood was charged with second-degree possession of a stolen motor vehicle, second-degree eluding, third-degree trespassing, and fourth-degree resisting arrest. He was remanded to the Essex County Jail pending a scheduled appearance in Superior Court.

A 17-year-old male juvenile from Newark was also taken into custody. Juvenile complaints were filed for second-degree possession of a stolen motor vehicle, third-degree trespassing, and fourth-degree resisting arrest.

The juvenile was released to his guardian pending a scheduled appearance in Family Court, police said.

Man Killed In Sunday Morning Crash On GSP In Clifton: Report

A 33-year-old Englewood man was killed on Sunday morning on the Garden State Parkway, according to media reports.

A Dodge minivan was parked on the shoulder of the GSP in the area of milepost 155.7 in Clifton when it was struck by a Dodge pickup, NJ.com reported.

The driver of the Dodge minivan, Andres Valencia-Castano, suffered fatal injuries, while the driver of the Dodge pickup, Joel Hernandez of Ridgefield Park and the passenger Andrick Portillo were taken to an area hospital with minor injuries.

Have a correction or a news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com