CHERRY HILL – An unidentified 44-year-old Marlton man, who died in a crash on Christmas Eve, was believed to be highly overdosed.

According to the authorities, the driver of the vehicle lost control after he had an “adverse reaction to drugs”.

The single-car crash took place Friday on Route 70, near Cuthbert Boulevard. Police responded to the scene at about 5:35 p.m. and Route 70 was reportedly shut down for more than an hour after the crash.

The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office gave details of the incident stating that the driver lost control and drove off the road, striking a utility pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy later determined that the driver died as a result of an accidental drug overdose, told a CCPO investigator.

Further details regarding the incident were not revealed by the police. Luckily, no one else was hurt in the crash.

News Source: www.NJ.com

WEST DEPTFORD TWP. – A Pennsylvania woman has been charged with drunken driving after she drove northbound in the southbound lanes of Interstate 295 and collided with a pickup truck early Monday morning.

The woman, who was later identified as 26-year-old Eileen Dougherty of Boothwyn, was driving a Toyota Prius northbound in the southbound lanes shortly before 4:30 a.m. when she collided head-on with a Ford F150 pickup truck near mile marker 21.4 in West Deptford.

According to police reports, the truck was being driven by Mark Rohrback Jr., of Cinnaminson.

After the collision, the truck ended up on the guardrail and was caught on fire. Rohrback escaped the flames and was transported to Inspira Medical Center Woodbury with minor injuries.

Dougherty was unconscious when emergency responders arrived. She had to be cut from her vehicle and was transported to Cooper University Hospital, Camden, with minor injuries.

It is still not confirmed how she ended up traveling the wrong way on the interstate. The incident is still under investigation.

All southbound lanes of the interstate were closed after the incident and were reopened by 7:15 a.m. when the scene was cleared.

News Source: www.NJ.com

TRENTON – Sgt. First Class Michael Roadside, who was charged with drunken driving last month, stated that he was sober on the scene of the parkway rest stop crash which he allegedly caused while on duty.

A dashboard video recording released on Wednesday showed Roadside saying “I’m not drunk.”

According to Roadside, he blamed his slurred speech, erratic behavior, and impaired walking, on a recent medical procedure. He claimed that he was on ‘anesthesia’ at the time of the crash.

A trooper responded to a 911 call made by the other driver, who was a female. When she saw Roadside’s erratic behavior, it made her fear for her own safety.

The dashboard video, which was recorded on 26 October, was obtained through an Open Public Records Act request. Roadside also said, “I’ve got to get home,” in the video.

According to Kimberly Wilson, the driver who was hit by Roadside, said that Roadside offered her $1,000 not to report the incident. He also offered to pay her for the damage he had caused to her car. Police reported that the damage was minor.

Jason Blazas was the trooper who responded to the scene. “I said, ‘Get back in your car. You’re scaring me,'” Wilson told him about Roadside when he arrived.

Blazas’ conversation over a communications system in his cruiser recorded him saying about Roadside that he “seems kind of out of it.”

“He comes out of the car, his shirt’s all untucked, he’s got — I don’t know if it’s saliva or vomit on his shirt,” the trooper said.

A supervisor soon arrived at the scene upon Blazas’ request. Sgt. Matthew J. Durak arrived toward the end of the video. He reported the whole incident later saying that he “immediately noticed a very strong smell of an alcoholic beverage” as he approached Roadside.

A search through Roadside’s vehicle revealed a cardboard case of Coors Light and two open containers later. Wilson also told Durak that a Bud Light bottle cap and a loaded magazine from his gun fell out of Roadside’s shirt during their interaction.

Roadside was tested for intoxication and his breath test showed is blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit.

He was charged with DWI, careless driving, and having an open container in his vehicle.

The charges were filed in the Wall Township municipal court.

His attorney, Robert Ebberup, said that his client was “a dedicated trooper for about 29 years of loyal service without any problems.” However, he declined to comment on the allegations.

An internal investigation is going on by the State Police. Meanwhile, Roadside remains suspended without pay.

Another video recorded in one of the troop cars present on the scene was released in proprietary format but could not be opened.

News Source: www.NJ.com

EAST BRUNSWICK – A Hackensack man was charged with Driving While Intoxicated when he was stopped by the cops after a car chase by deflating his tires.

Details of the incident given by Lt. Brian Polite stated that the pursuit began around 5:50 am on the Turnpike’s northbound car lanes near milepost 79 in East Brunswick. Police started following the suspect who led the authorities on a car chase which eventually ended around 6:07 am. near milepost 98.5 in Carteret.

The suspect was identified as 34-year-old Benjamin Torres. He was driving a silver Toyota Tacoma recklessly and speeding when authorities tried to stop him. However, Torres continued without stopping and a pursuit soon started.

A marked patrol car deployed its emergency lights and sirens and followed Torres in an attempt to stop him. The vehicles reached speeds of up to 75 mph as traffic on the highway was relatively light in the morning.

Authorities deployed spike strips at around milepost 92, and Torres soon ran over them which caused the tires of his vehicle to deflate.

He was arrested and charged with DWI and eluding the police.

News Source: www.NJ.com

FRANKLIN TWP. – Officer Clifford Trovillo suffered multiple injuries after he was hit by a motorist suspected to be driving under the influence.

The motorist, identified as 36-year-old Angela L. Feaster of Glassboro, faced multiple charges including drunken driving, child-endangerment and assault by auto.

The incident took place Friday night in a two-car crash when the vehicle driven by Feaster collided with a police vehicle in Franklin Township.

According to the authorities, Officer Clifford Trovillo was traveling on Route 40/Harding Highway when his police vehicle was struck by a car traveling south on Tuckahoe Road shortly after 8 p.m. There was a stop sign at the intersection which was disregarded by Feaster, who then struck Trovillo’s vehicle. The Franklin Township police stated that Feaster’s three kids were passengers in her vehicle.

The officer suffered a concussion, two broken wrists and a broken ankle and had to be airlifted to Cooper University Hospital for treatment. Trovillo, who is a 14-year-veteran, was reported to be in “good” condition Saturday morning.

Feaster suffered a broken ankle in the accident and was taken to Kennedy Hospital for treatment. One of the three children was also transported to Cooper for treatment of possible internal injuries.

She was charged with driving while intoxicated, assault by auto and three counts of child endangerment, and was placed in Salem County Correctional Facility after treatment of her injuries. Her bail was set at $50,000.

Apart from the Franklin Township police, Newfield, Glassboro, Monroe and Buena police departments assisted on the scene. They were also joined by New Jersey State Police, Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, Franklin Township Ambulance, Star Cross Fire Police Forest and Grove Volunteer Fire Department.

News Source: www.NJ.com

ELMWOOD PARK -24-year-old Troy Saucier of Suffern, N.Y., was driving under the influence of heroin when he fatally struck 65-year-old Rasim Hida, of Elmwood Park in a parking lot.

The incident took place Friday evening in the parking lot of the Walgreen’s pharmacy on Broadway.

According to the authorities, Saucier was operating a 2003 Jeep Liberty in the Walgreen’s parking lot at around 6:41 p.m. when he drove on to the sidewalk. Hida was walking in front of the Walgreens when he was struck as Saucier drove on to the sidewalk. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The report was released in a joint news release by Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli and Elmwood Park police Chief Michael Foligno.

When police arrived at the scene, Saucier was found unresponsive in his Jeep. He was believed to be under the influence of heroin. He had to be revived with the help of Narcan. It is not known if Saucier passed out before the crash or after.

Authorities found drugs and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle after a search.

He is facing multiple charges including vehicular homicide, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia as well as driving under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance. Apart from these charges, he was also issued summonses for driving under the influence and reckless driving.

He was sent to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court for his arraignment on 15 September.

News Source: www.NJ.com

ELIZABETH – 48-year-old Victor Belo of North Arlington was charged with operating heavy machinery while driving under the influence and striking and killing a woman in the process.

The incident took place on 7 August at a city marine terminal.

Belo surrendered to the police on Monday and was charged with vehicular homicide. 49-year-old Judy Jones of Newark was killed in the accident, according to Grace Park, the acting Union County Prosecutor.

Reports confirm that the Port Authority police and emergency medical personnel were called to the APM terminal in Elizabeth where Jones was found. She had been struck by a toploader and was severely injured and was later pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigation carried out by Port Authority police Detective Robert Caron and members of the Union County Homicide Task Force determined that Belo was driving under the influence and his BAC level was over the legal limit of 0.08% when the incident took place. He is being held at the Union County Jail on $75,000 bail. His bail was set by state Superior Court Judge Robert Mega.

Belo faces a second-degree charge that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison once convicted.

News Source: www.NJ.com

WOODBURY – 31-year-old Kelli D. Hennessey of Franklin Township was released from jail last week for her third drunk driving conviction when she added a fourth conviction to her record after being released.

Hennessey was convicted Tuesday on three counts of assault by auto in a school zone for a drunken driving incident that took place on 6 November, 2011. She was involved in a crash in Glassboro when she hit three Rowan University students who were crossing Delsea Drive. Two of the students suffered leg injuries, whereas the third student suffered a broken collarbone and a broken leg which had to be reinforced with a metal rod. She also suffered facial cuts that required stitches as she was thrown into the windshield upon impact. The students were unable to identify the driver.

According to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, Hennessey’s bail was revoked and she was jailed pending her Sept. 11 sentencing.

After completing a 180-day sentence, Hennessey was released from jail last Friday. She was serving for drunken driving, which stemmed from her 2010 arrest in Clayton.

During her trial, Hennessey testified that an acquaintance was driving her car, when she was involved in her latest case. She said that the acquaintance fled the scene after the crash and that she was the only passenger in the vehicle. The acquaintance was not called as a witness at the hearing.

According to a Glassboro police officer, Hennessey admitted that she was driving the Ford Taurus at the scene. She was issued a breath test which showed her blood alcohol level at 0.13%, much higher than the legal limit of 0.08% for driving in New Jersey.

Reports given by Assistant Gloucester County Prosecutor Staci Scheetz stated that the crash occurred within 1,000 feet of Glassboro Intermediate School. Vehicular assault in a school zone that results in serious injury is a second-degree crime, and is punishable by 5-10 years in prison. Third-degree assault by auto means a sentence of 3-5 years.

Hennessey faced multiple counts of assault by auto in a school zone, one of which was second-degree, and the other two were third-degree.

News Source: www.NJ.com

LOWER TOWNSHIP – Municipal prosecutor Peter Tourison resigned from his position as solicitor at the Lower Cape May Regional School District after being charged with drunk driving in neighboring Cape May.

Tourison, who also has private practice on Bayshore Road, still holds attorney positions at the North Wildwood School District and Erma Volunteer Fire Company. He is also a North Cape May attorney.

According to Tourison, he had three drinks on Sunday before he was pulled over by Cape May Police on Madison Avenue. He blames himself for the incident, as he took two breath tests and they both came at the lowest drunk-driving level of 0.08%.

“It is what it is. It was my own fault,” said Tourison.

In 2008, Tourison resigned from several municipal judge positions when he was involved in a minor motor vehicle drunk-driving accident that took place at the North Cape May Wawa on Bayshore Road.

The legal limit for driving in the region was lowered to 0.08% from 0.10% in 2004. Since then, a lot of people stopped and arrested for DUI say that they only had a few drinks. A BAC level in the range of 0.08% is consistent with having just a few drinks, although it may be influenced by a number of other factors such as food consumption, body weight etc.

News Source: www.PressOfAtlanticCity.com

28-year-old Ravi Patel of Jersey City was charged with DUI after he was found sleeping behind the wheel by Port Authority police.

According to a spokesman for the police department, Patel was behind the wheel in Jersey City traffic causing traffic to build behind him. The incident took place around 1 am at Central and Pavonia avenues, told spokesman Joe Pentangelo who is with Port Authority police.

When officers roused Patel, they found him incoherent with slurred speech. He groggily uttered that he had just left a bar.

Police records showed that Patel had five outstanding warrants, from Secaucus and Carlstadt, and three warrants from Rutherford, that totaled $2,450.

He was charged with DUI and reckless driving.

News Source: www.NJ.com