Police say young man was driving under the influence of alcohol.
By: Al Wicklund
MONROE A 20-year-old Jamesburg man hit a Monroe Township police car while driving under the influence of alcohol midnight Saturday, according to police.
Police said Effran Alvarez, 20, of Buckelew Apartments ran away from the accident on foot and was arrested after a short chase.
Mr. Alvarez was arrested on criminal charges of eluding and obstruction.
According to the police report, a marked police car driven by Patrol Officer Leigh Ann Palo was stopped to make a left turn from the eastbound lane of Buckelew Avenue at the intersection of Spotswood Englishtown Road when a red 1988 Ford Escort coming from the opposite direction on Buckelew Avenue swerved out of its lane and struck the police car,
Police said the car struck the front driver’s side of the police car, continued for a short distance and then crashed into several trees in front of a residence on Buckelew Avenue.
Officer Palo drove her damaged police car to the suspect’s vehicle. When she approached, Mr. Alvarez ran from the scene.
Officer Palo and Officer George Olynyk ran after the suspect and arrested him in a neighboring yard.
Police said, when Mr. Alvarez was processed at the Police Department, he was found to have a blood alcohol content almost twice the legal limit.
He received motor vehicle summonses for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol while under the legal age to purchase alcohol, careless driving, reckless driving, failure to wear a seat belt, failure to keep right, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to report an accident.
Mr. Alvarez was lodged in the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center in lieu of $2,500 bail.
Police said neither Officer Palo nor Mr. Alvarez was injured in the collision.