Drunk Man Sped From Stop, Crashed, Police Say

Hopatcong police say a man sped from a traffic stop, reaching 80 mph before crashing into a bridge on Landing Road in Roxbury before resisting arrest.

Michael Mihalik, 40, of Highland Lakes, was leaving Hopatcong traveling on Lakeside Blvd. early Saturday after 1 a.m. when he crossed over the double yellow lines, police said.

When police pulled over his vehicle and began walking to the car, police said he took off at a high rate of speed. He was pursued by police as he reached speeds of 80 mph heading into Roxbury, police said

Mihalik then turned right onto Landing Road when he crashed into the bridge located on the road, police said. 

Mihalik would then not get out of the car, was taken out of the passenger door, would not lie down, and then would not give officers his hands, police said. He was handcuffed with the help of an additional officer, police said.

Police said Mihalik told them he eluded police because he had been drinking and his license was suspended. 

Mihalik was arrested on charges of eluding, hindering, obstruction, resisting arrest, reckless driving, failure to keep right, DWI, speeding, and driving with a suspended license, police said.

He was taken to the hospital for an examination of an injury to his elbow and above his eye, and a blood sample was drawn for the issuance of the DWI summons, police said. Police also said he was driving a friend's car at the time of the alleged incident. He was taken to the Sussex County jail in lieu of $35,000 bail.