Drunken Driver Flipped Hummer Over Rt. 23 Barrier On to Car, Cops Say

A Vernon man was taken to Chilton Hospital Sunday morning after police said a drunken driver flipped his Hummer over the Route 23 North barrier, landing on the man's Volkswagen.

Alex B. Malaquti, 19, of Hewitt, was charged with driving while intoxicated and issued a summons for reckless driving, according to a release from Kinnelon Police Lt. John Schwartz.

Schwartz said Sgt. Joseph Fiduccia and Ptl. Nicholas Cifelli responded to a motor vehicle accident call on Route 23 just before 2:30 a.m. to find a 1996 Volkswagen with extensive front damage in the middle of the northbound lane of traffic and a 2003 Hummer flipped over on its roof about 100 yards away in the southbound lanes of the highway. Witnesses told officers that the Hummer, being driven by Malaquti, was traveling in the left lane of Route 23 South when Malaquti drove up the cement barrier and landed on the Volkswagen on Route 23 North, Schwartz said.

Schwartz said witnesses also told the officers that the Hummer then went back over the cement barrier, flipped and landed on its own roof on Route 23 South.

The 42-year-old driver of the Volkswagen was taken to the hospital with neck and back injuries, Schwartz said. Malaquti, who Schwartz said was not injured, was transported to the Kinnelon police station after being arrested and was later released with a date to appear in court.

The Butler, Riverdale and West Milford Police Departments assisted at the scene, Schwartz said, along with paramedics from Chilton Hospital and the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad.

For questions on this report, email ariana.cohn-sheehan@patch.com