New Jersey State Police report that a man was taken into custody for allegedly driving drunk and causing a multi-vehicle wreck in Bernards Township on Oct. 3. The 49-year-old man’s SUV reportedly collided with a semi-trailer on Route 78, causing the semi-trailer to overturn.
Highway officials arrived at the scene around 1:13 p.m. regarding a three-vehicle crash. According to the report, a semi-trailer was damaged after an SUV struck it, forcing it off the roadway. The semi-trailer then flipped over and continued down an embankment. The truck driver, a 25-year-old man, suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Morristown Medical Center. It was reported that a third vehicle, another semi-trailer, was part of the wreck; however, it was gone when police arrived at the scene.
Troopers who located the SUV driver stated that he appeared to be intoxicated. After he failed a field sobriety test, officers detained him at the Somerville State Police Station and charged him with criminal driving while intoxicated.
The crash caused traffic gridlock for about five hours while authorities worked to clear the area of large amounts of diesel fuel that had spilled from the truck. An investigation into the incident was ongoing at the time of the report.
In New Jersey, a person suspected of driving under the influence is not required to take a field sobriety test. Furthermore, such tests may give faulty results due to the inability of some people to balance themselves or trying to perform the test in the dark. Because DWI charges may result in serious penalties, someone who is accused of such crimes may wish to consult with a criminal defense attorney, as he or she can help a defendant understand his or her rights in a case.
Source: NJ.com, “SUV driver charged with criminal DWI in Route 78 flipped tractor trailer accident“, Walter O’Brien, October 03, 2014
