A woman in Ringwood was arrested after rear-ending a police vehicle, according to local news sources. The New Jersey police cruiser was damaged in the crash and an officer was injured. The woman stands accused of drunk driving as well as vehicular assault. No court date has been announced at this time, and it is not clear if the woman remains in police custody as of this report.
According to the details provided by officers on the scene, a 55-year-old woman was traveling at a high rate of speed around 7:20 p.m. the evening of Oct. 13 when the accident occurred. She reportedly struck a police cruiser from behind with enough force to total the other vehicle. The officer in the car was taken to a local hospital for treatment for knee and neck injuries.
The woman considered at fault was apparently not harmed, but she was arrested and charged with DUI and assault by auto. It is unclear what measures were taken at the scene to determine her level of intoxication, as no breath test or blood test was mentioned in the report. Evidence of this type will likely be vital to the prosecution to secure a conviction on the drunk driving charge.
There are many factors that can influence a drunk driving case, including the amount of alcohol consumed — if any — and when. In some cases, it is possible a driver may have been under the limit at the time of the accident, even if he or she appears intoxicated afterward. The woman’s attorney the evidence gathered by New Jersey police and determine the best way to move forward with a defense.