By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Princeton Township Committeeman Lance Liverman says he was not drunk when he was charged with driving under the influence last week and that he will continue to seek election to the new Princeton Council.
State Police Lt. Stephen Jones said on Monday that Mr. Liverman was travelling alone in his blue Honda Pilot around 1:55 a.m. on Aug. 9 when he hit a tractor trailer that idling on the right shoulder of I-95 north in Hopewell Township. No one was injured, Lt. Jones said.
In addition to driving under the influence, Mr. Liverman was charged with reckless driving and refusing to take a breathalyzer, Lt. Jones said.
In a phone interview Monday, Mr. Liverman said he had worked a 10 to 12 hour day and was driving home from Philadelphia. At some point during the trip home, he fell asleep.
He said he was not drunk, but he declined to take the breathalyzer test. Asked why not, he answered: “I didn’t want to take the test.”
He said he was not aware at the time that he would be charged with refusing the test. Looking back, he said he would have done so had he known the consequences.
Asked if he thinks he would have passed, he replied: “I don’t know. I assume I would.”
Mr. Liverman, 50, has hired a lawyer, Scott Krasny. He has a future municipal court date.Mr. Liverman, a Democrat serving his eighth year on the governing body, said he has no plans to resign his seat. He is running in November for council of the consolidated Princeton.Borough Councilwoman Jenny Crumiller said Monday that she was “by all means” comfortable running on the same ticket with Mr. Liverman this fall. “I really respect him,” she said in a phone interview.Aside from the governing body, Mr. Liverman serves on the board of First Baptist Church and on the Mercer Council of Alcohol and Drug addiction.
