By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
An alleged drunk driver crashed into the rear of a township police car on Route 27 early Tuesday morning, sending the driver and a police officer to the hospital, according to police.
The accident occurred at 12:04 a.m. Tuesday as Patrolman First Class Angelo Zecca, a more than 15-year veteran of the department, was patrolling Route 27 north near Vilet Drive.
According to police, Officer Zecca’s patrol car vas struck from behind by a 2008 Saturn driven by Joseph Menedes, 24, of Phillipsburg.
The collision sent Officer Zecca’s car across Route 27 and into a traffic light stanchion. The vehicle rotated 180 degrees and came to rest off of the side of the road, according to police.
Although injured and bleeding, Mr. Menedes attempted to walk away from the scene of the crash, according to police.
Injured with whiplash, a sprained ankle and other contusions, Officer Zecca was able to free himself from his vehicle and caught Mr. Menedes, according to police.
Both men were transported to Robert Wood Johnson university Hospital in New Brunswick for treatment, police said.
Officer Zecca was treated for his injuries and released. Mr. Menedes was also treated and then released into police custody, police said.
Traffic Safety Supervisor Sgt. Ken Drost investigated the accident and determined that Mr. Menendes’s vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when it hit the patrol vehicle.
Officers at the scene also recovered a small amount of marijuana at the spot where Officer Zecca detained Mr. Menendes, according to police.
Mr. Menendes was charged with assault by auto, driving while intoxicated, possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, reckless driving, and other motor vehicle violations, according to police.
He was released on $250 bail.
Chief of Police Raymond Hayducka said that Officer Zecca was spared serious injury due to the safety measures in the patrol car.
”Officer Zecca was saved from serious injuries because he was wearing his seatbelt and the airbags in the patrol car deployed,” Chief Hayducka said Tuesday. “The suspect was traveling at a high rate of speed and intoxicated. We are thankful the officer and no one in the general public was seriously injured or killed by this driver.”