photo courtesy of the state PBA
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Saddle River NJ, a four-car, chain-reaction crash occurred Saturday night on Route 17 South near East Allendale Road when a Range Rover lost control and rear-ended two police vehicles and a stopped car. The driver, Joseph Ford, 18, of New York City, was later arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), along with multiple other charges.
The incident took place around 10:30 p.m. as Saddle River Police Officer John Latka was conducting a routine traffic stop on the shoulder of Route 17. Officer Latka, in a marked patrol car, was being assisted by Allendale Police Officer Mark Dunn Jr., with both vehicles’ emergency lights activated.
Ford, driving a Range Rover southbound, reportedly lost control of his vehicle, veering into the shoulder and crashing into Officer Dunn’s patrol car. The impact caused a chain-reaction crash involving Dunn’s vehicle, the car stopped by Latka, and Latka’s own patrol car.
After the crash, Ford allegedly fled the scene on foot, but responding officers from nearby police departments were able to apprehend him. The crash left Officer Dunn with serious injuries and caused injuries to Officer Latka and an occupant of the stopped car. All were taken to the hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
Following an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, Ford was found to have been intoxicated and speeding at the time of the crash. He now faces multiple charges, including assault by auto and other motor vehicle offenses. Ford remains hospitalized under custody and is awaiting a court appearance in state Superior Court in Hackensack.
Several local police departments, including Allendale, Saddle River, Mahwah, and the New Jersey State Police, responded to the crash and assisted in the investigation. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and Paramus and Woodcliff Lake police also played roles in the response through the Fatal Accident Investigation Unit task force.
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They keep saying there can be some mechanism legally required to be installed in new cars to check alcohol intake in the driver and “refuse” to turn on if it’s too high. Assuming it would be accurate and tamper proof, this could save many lives.
They should have one for accessing the internet too, and leaving stupid comments.