Wayne PD: Drunk Driver Runs Light, Slams Pickup, Assaults Medic

WAYNE, N.J. -- A drunk driver rammed his Mini Cooper into a pickup truck after running a red light in Wayne, then assaulted an ambulance squad responder who was trying to help him, authorities said.

The aftermath.
Photo Credit: *COURTESY: Wayne PD*

Jim Chung
Photo Credit: *COURTESY: Wayne PD*

At the scene.
Photo Credit: *COURTESY: Wayne PD*

Jerry DeMarco

03/05/2018 3:24 p.m.

The 2012 compact car veered off the roadway before hitting the fence at the QuickChek on Hamburg Turnpike after it struck the pickup so hard that it left the truck facing east in the westbound lane of Ratzer Road just after 9:30 p.m. Friday, Detective Capt. Laurence J. Martin said.

Wayne firefighters extricated the driver of the mangled Mini Cooper, 38-year-old Jim Chung of Pompton Lakes, who was taken to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson.

The pickup driver, who complained of pain to his back and arms, also was hospitalized, Martin said.

Chung, who had an open can of beer in the car, was charged with DWI, running the light, reckless driving, assaulting a member of the Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad and not having insurance, the captain said.

William Paterson police units assisted, he said.

Both vehicles sustained heavy front-end damage and were towed from the scene.

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