Saddle River, NJ (October 7, 2024) – On Saturday, October 5, an officer was seriously hurt after a chain-reaction crash involving an intoxicated driver in Saddle River. The crash took place on NJ-17 near E. Allendale Road late that night around 10:35 p.m. Local reports revealed that Saddle River Officer John Latka had pulled over another vehicle on the highway and called another officer, Allendale Police Officer Mark Dunn Jr., to assist.
The police vehicles had emergency lights on when the driver of a Ford lost control and crashed into the back of Dunn’s vehicle, which caused the car to hit the two other parked vehicles. The driver of the SUV, 18-year-old Joseph Ford of New York City, fled the scene on foot but was later apprehended by authorities. It’s believed that intoxication and speed played roles in the Crash. Dunn, a passenger in the SUV, and the driver of the car initially stopped by police were all injured and transported to local hospitals for treatment. No further information on the crash is currently available.
Our thoughts are with the injured victim and their family at this time. We hope for a full recovery.
DUI Collisions in New Jersey
We all know that drunk driving is dangerous. Statistics show that drunk drivers are involved in nearly 28 percent of fatal weekend crashes in New Jersey, just 15 percent percent more than during the week. A driver with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher is involved in over 20 percent of traffic deaths in the Garden State, with one death occurring every 48 minutes on average. After consuming one drink too much, drivers should be held accountable in the case of a serious crash. Drunk drivers pose an active threat to everyone on the road, and a lawyer can help you pursue the recovery you are owed.
You need a competent Saddle River car accident lawyer on your side to make sure your legal rights are upheld after being hurt by a reckless driver. The legal team at Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq is here to fight for you. Contact our offices today at (800) 923-3456.
Notes: Our accident news pieces utilize secondary sources like police and fire accident reports, news articles, and eyewitness testimonies. We have not independently verified this information at Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq. If you find inaccuracies, please contact us for correction. To request post-removal, please inform us, and we will promptly comply.
Disclaimer: This content is not a business solicitation, and none of the information provided should be construed as legal or medical advice. Additionally, the featured image in this post is not from the actual accident scene.
