Westfield Man Faces Additional Charges After Drunk Driving Crash: Cops

WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battilorro announced Friday that the 22-year-old Westfield man who was recently arrested for Driving While Intoxicated is now facing additional charges.

Ariel Guzman was arrested on Saturday, June 25 following a crash where him and three other people were injured. His own car also flipped over after crashing into a house, police said.

Read more: 4 Injured After Westfield Drunk Driver Crashes Twice: Police

In addition to the DWI Guzman received, among other traffic violations, Westfield Police charged him with three criminal counts of Assault by Auto — one charge for each person injured in the crash.

These additional charges, which are all crimes of the fourth degree, were approved by the Union County Prosecutor's Office.

The collision occurred at the intersection of W. North Avenue Place and Crossway Place in Westfield, police said.

At the scene, police found two vehicles that were heavily damaged — one disabled at the intersection, and the other operated by Guzman nearby, which was overturned and up against a house on the 400 block of Edgewood Avenue.

Guzman was arrested at the scene and was sent to University Hospital in Newark where he was treated for injuries he sustained as a result of the crash, police said.

Guzman was also initially charged with numerous traffic violations, including reckless driving, failure to observe traffic control devices, failure to keep right, improper driving on a sidewalk, having open containers of an alcoholic beverage in his vehicle and not having liability insurance on the vehicle he was operating, according to police.

Three other people in the vehicle struck by Guzman's car sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash and were rushed to Overlook Medical Center in Summit, police said.

The three people involved in the accident were chefs who work at Old Havana Cafe & Restaurant in downtown Westfield. The Cuban restaurant was working with limited staff following the crash.

One of the three chefs was seriously injured and may need back surgery.

Read more: Westfield Cuban Restaurant Down To 1 Chef After Major Car Collision

Guzman was served with a complaint-summons and will be processed when he appears at Central Judicial Processing on July 29 at 8 a.m., according to police.

“The Westfield Police Department shall demonstrate zero tolerance for persons who drive while intoxicated and recklessly endanger the lives of others,” Chief Battiloro stated.

“These charges shall serve as an appropriate indicator of such and should be a strict warning to others,” Battiloro added.

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