Serious Motor Vehicle Crash, DWI, Eluding, & Other Charges In West Windsor

Press release from the West Windsor Police Department:

January 7, 2021

WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT
20 Municipal Drive P.O. Box 38
West Windsor, New Jersey 08550

Robert Garofalo Ph(D)c Chief of Police

Records Fax (609) 799-6338 * Fax (609) 897-9010
Fax (609) 799-6515 * Dispatch Fax (609) 799-3516

PRESS INFORMATION

INCIDENT: 2021-535 Serious Motor Vehicle Crash, DWI, Eluding, & Hindering Apprehension

DATE/TIME OCCURRED: 1/6/2021 at 11:30 pm

LOCATION OCCURRED: Washington Road Dead End at Northeast Corridor Railroad Tracks (PJTS)

VICTIM/ACCUSED: Driver #1-- 31 year old
Resident of Dayton, NJ 08810

**Identity withheld at this time**

OTHERS INVOLVED: 1) Det. Sgt. Lai #470
2) Traffic Sgt. Bal #467
3) Sgt. Brodowski #479
4) Ptl. C. Van Ness #86
5) Traffic Officer Brown #89
6) K9 Officer Zicha #96
7) Ptl. LaForge #104
8) Ptl. Robles #106
9) Ptl. Mangone #112
10) WW Division of Fire & Emergency Services (WWDFES)
11) Princeton Jct. Volunteer Fire Company
(PJVFC)
12) NJ Transit Police Department
13) Amtrak Police Department

INVESTIGATING OFFICERS: 1) Traffic Officer Brown #89
2) Ptl. LaForge #104

DETAILS: On Wednesday January 6, 2021, Patrol Units, WWDFEMS, and the PJVFC responded to Washington Road in the area of the train tracks on report of a car on fire. Upon arrival of Patrol Units, they discovered a blue Ford Escape overturned on top of the outer southbound track and facing east. The vehicle was unoccupied which led units to search the area of the driver and any other occupants out of concern for their physical condition. Ptl. LaForge noticed an individual walking in the nearby Washington Park office complex. Ptl. LaForge attempted to make contact with the individual. The individual ran on foot away from Ptl. LaForge in a clear attempt to elude him.

After a brief foot pursuit, Ptl. LaForge caught the individual and was able to determine that he was the driver of the overturned SUV. Due to the severity of Driver #1's injuries sustained in the crash, he was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center (Trauma) by WWDFES with members of the WWPD.

The initial investigation revealed the following: the Ford Escape was traveling east on Washington Road in the area of Station Drive. Driver #1 failed to stop where the roadway came to a dead end at the train tracks and, as a result, crashed through the concrete jersey barriers at the train tracks. The Suv flipped over and came to a rest on its roof. The concrete barriers had a "STOP" sign affixed as a final alert to any errant approaching individuals that was torn off during the crash. After the collision, Driver #1 exited the overturned and crumpled vehicle through the window before fleeing where he was eventually apprehended.

Although the collocated Investigation is continuing by Traffic Officer Brown & Ptl. LaForge, Driver #1 will issued the following summonses; DUI 39:4-50, Reckless Driving 39:4-96, Careless Driving 39:4-97, Leaving the Scene of an Accident 39:4-129 and Failure to Report an Accident 39:4-130. He was also charged with Eluding, Obstruction of Justice and Hindering Apprehension. The Northeast Corridor was operating on a modified (1) track for approximately (90) minutes until the remnants of the destroyed SUV were removed from the tracks.

If anyone has any additional pertinent information, please contact Traffic Officer Brown at Brown@westwindsorpolice.com, Ptl. LaForge at LaForge@westwindsorpolice.com, Traffic Sgt. Bal at Bal@westwindsorpolice.com , or calling (609) 799-1222.

OFFICER PREPARING RELEASE: Det. Lt. Lee #359

DATE OF RELEASE: 1/7/2021

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*Please note that charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This press release was produced by the West Windsor Police Department. The views expressed here are the author’s o...