Elderly Woman Suffering Medical Emergency Crashed Into Washington Twp. Cop Car: Police

LONG VALLEY – An 86-year-old woman suffering from a medical condition while driving backed into a police car before being taken to a local hospital Wednesday, Lt. Doug Compton said.

Just after 5 p.m. Cpl. Kirk Griffin responded to the area of Coleman Road and East Mill Road for a report of an erratic, possible drunk driver, Compton said.

Griffin located the vehicle, a Honda Odyssey, on East Mill Road heading west, when he observed the vehicle traveling well under the speed limit and the driver unable to maintain the lane, Compton said.

Griffin made a motor vehicle stop on West Mill Road. Once stopped, the driver, later identified as Catherine Alwine, 86, of Spring Valley, Pennsylvania, accidentally put the car in reverse, backing into Griffin’s patrol vehicle, Compton said.

While speaking with Alwine, Griffin was able to determine the driver was suffering from an unknown medical condition, Compton said. The Long Valley First Aid Squad arrived on scene assessed Alwine, later transporting her to Hackettstown Regional Medical Center for further care and evaluation.

Alwine was issued a summons for careless driving. No one was injured from the minor crash.