Driver Charged With Eluding, DWI After Crash In Union County

By Michelle Sahn

Woodbridge police arrested a Carteret motorist who they say refused to pull over, drove the road with a blown-out tire and then crashed into cars that were stopped at a red light in Rahway.

Damar K. Jordan, of Carteret Avenue, was charged Sunday with eluding and five counts of assault by auto.

He was also issued summonses, charging him with DWI, driving while suspended, reckless driving, failure to observe a traffic signal, improper passing, speeding and driving an unsafe vehicle.

According to a news release from Capt. Roy Hoppock:

Around 9:30 a.m. police saw a Ford Taurus heading north on St. Georges Avenue, past Woodbridge High School.

The right, front passenger tire had been blown out and small chunks of that tire were flying into the air.

The officer tried to pull over the driver - later identified as Jordan - but he refused to stop and turned onto Route 1 north, heading into Rahway.

As he drove down the highway, the remaining rubber on that tire fell off and he drove on the rim.

At the intersection with East Milton Street, he crashed into a line of cars that were stopped at the red light.

As police approached the car, it began to smoke. He was taken out of the car and brought to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Rahway police, fire and EMS also responded, and Rahway police handled the crash investigation.

Bail for Jordan was set at $50,000.