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Police & Fire
Two Passengers Dead, Driver Charged In Horrific Teaneck Crash Two Passengers Dead, Driver Charged In Horrific Teaneck Crash
Two Passengers Dead, Driver Charged In Horrific Teaneck Crash UPDATE: Authorities have upgraded charges against a Teaneck restaurant manager who they said was drunk when he slammed his speeding car into a tree, killing two of his passengers. Teddy Mejia, 32, originally was charged with death by auto following the horrific Oct. 21 crash that killed Rudy Rosales Escobar, 40, of Hasbrouck Heights, and Alexander Cosme Curruchich, 29, of Englewood. Investigators have since determined that Mejia was not only intoxicated but also speeding down Teaneck Road when his 2021 BMW M850i hit the tree – shearing off an entire limb – and rolled onto its roof near…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
'Jesus Made Me Do It': NJ Driver Who Plowed Into Midtown Pedestrians Heard Voices, Mom Says 'Jesus Made Me Do It': NJ Driver Who Plowed Into Midtown Pedestrians Heard Voices, Mom Says
'Jesus Made Me Do It': NJ Driver Who Plowed Into Midtown Pedestrians Heard Voices, Mom Says A New Jersey woman who was charged with multiple counts of attempted murder for mowing down seven pedestrians in midtown Manhattan and then taking off allegedly told city police that "Jesus made me do it." Imani Lucas, 29, was wearing a "Good Vibes" t-shirt and handcuffs during a perp walk from the NYPD's Midtown South stationhouse on West 35th Street near Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Aug. 22. A judge later ordered that Lucas remain held as the case against her proceeds. Lucas is charged with seven counts each of attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of a…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Impaired Driver In Illegally Parked Car Found With Coke, Pot, Xanax: North Arlington PD Impaired Driver In Illegally Parked Car Found With Coke, Pot, Xanax: North Arlington PD
Impaired Driver In Illegally Parked Car Found With Coke, Pot, Xanax: North Arlington PD A 37-year-old motorist found illegally parked in North Arlington was carrying significant amounts of cocaine, Xanax and pot, authorities said. Juan D. Maldonado was under the influence and had some of the drugs in plain view in the vehicle when officers approached him on River Road near Arlington Boulevard early Sunday, Aug. 20, Police Lt. Michael Horton said. Maldonado, who the lieutenant said also had drugs on him, was taken into custody. He was charged with DUI and 10 various drug-possession counts, including having them for sale, then was sent to the Bergen County Jail. A judge releas…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Driver In NJ Turnpike Crash Under the Influence, State Police Charge Driver In NJ Turnpike Crash Under the Influence, State Police Charge
Driver In NJ Turnpike Crash Under the Influence, State Police Charge A driver was under the influence of drugs when he crashed his sedan on the New Jersey Turnpike in Bergen County, State Police said. The 24-year-old driver from Staten Island was headed south on the western spur in Carlstadt when he crashed his Lexus NX at 5:44 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, NJSP Sergeant First Class Philip Curry said. Firefighters extricated the driver, who refused medical attention at the scene, the sergeant said. State Police charged him with DUI and issued several motor vehicle summonses, he said.

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Driver In Bizarre Crash Off Overpass Onto Route 17 In Ramsey Charged With DWI Assault Driver In Bizarre Crash Off Overpass Onto Route 17 In Ramsey Charged With DWI Assault
Driver In Bizarre Crash Off Overpass Onto Route 17 In Ramsey Charged With DWI Assault UPDATE: A Ramsey driver was drunk when her out-of-control SUV crashed through an overpass guard rail and rolled down an embankment onto Route 17, where it broadsided another vehicle, authorities said. Good Samaritans rushed to upright the 2018 Toyota Rav4 and help Rosa Griffin, 56, out after the bizarre crash shortly before 5 p.m. Monday, July 24, Ramsey Police Detective Jaclyn Sabatelli said. Griffin was headed north on Franklin Turnpike when she lost control of the Rav4, Sabatelli said. The SUV hit the curb-high barrier median, then accelerated through a guardrail and a thicket of brush…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
MADD Honors Montvale Officer As This Year's Bergen 'Top Cop' Against Drunk And Impaired Driving MADD Honors Montvale Officer As This Year's Bergen 'Top Cop' Against Drunk And Impaired Driving
MADD Honors Montvale Officer As This Year's Bergen 'Top Cop' Against Drunk And Impaired Driving Making the most DWI arrests in all of Bergen County brought Montvale Police Officer Robert Klecha kudos from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Klecha received a Top Cop Award Of Excellence from MADD NJ during a ceremony at Rutgers University last Thursday, June 22. The officer's own department praised Klecha's "commitment and dedication in reducing the amount of DWI/DUI's in Bergen County." "His diligence and professionalism have saved countless lives," Montvale police added. Hundreds of police and state troopers from around New Jersey were honored at the event. All of the officers were nom…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Driver Of Van In Route 46 Rollover Crash Charged With DWI Driver Of Van In Route 46 Rollover Crash Charged With DWI
Driver Of Van In Route 46 Rollover Crash Charged With DWI The driver of a van that crashed on a Route 46 overpass on Wednesday was taken to the hospital in police custody, authorities said. Frankie Harrison, 63, was charged with DWI and careless driving after the 11:45 a.m. June 7 rollover on the westbound highway near the exit ramp for southbound Route 17, Hasbrouck Heights Police Lt. John Behr said. Borough firefighters were assisted by their Wood-Ridge colleagues in stabilizing the Econoline van and extricating Harrison, the lieutenant said. He was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center with injuries that weren't considered life-threate…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Young Bicyclist Struck By DUI Bergen County Driver Faces Long Road To Recovery Young Bicyclist Struck By DUI Bergen County Driver Faces Long Road To Recovery
Young Bicyclist Struck By DUI Bergen County Driver Faces Long Road To Recovery The 10-year-old boy struck on his bike by a DUI driver Memorial Day Weekend at the Jersey Shore is seeing an overwhelming amount of community support. Jackson became embedded in the windshield as the driver, Giancarlos Fernandez, of Hasbrouck Heights, allegedly sped off and then tried to flee police by foot, authorities said. "Jack has a long road to recovery and I’d like everyone to share this story to help support this beautiful family on their healing journey," Jack's aunt, Erin Albertson of Ocean Gate, said on a GoFundMe page. Jack underwent reconstructive surgery to repair the missin…

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by Jon Craig
News
NJ Mom Of 7 Was Struck Dead By DUI Driver In PA: Police NJ Mom Of 7 Was Struck Dead By DUI Driver In PA: Police
NJ Mom Of 7 Was Struck Dead By DUI Driver In PA: Police A 36-year-old mom of seven and New Jersey native died when she was struck walking in a crosswalk last December in Harrisburg, PA. Six months later, police have determined that the driver responsible was both speeding and intoxicated when he struck her and another person. Nicole M. DeFalco, originally of Glen Ridge and most recently of Harrisburg, and another pedestrian were struck while using a marked cross walk at the intersection of South Cameron and Market streets around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, according to the police, DeFalco's obituary, and her social media.  DeFalco…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
Former NJ Woman Accused In DWI Crash That Killed Bride On Wedding Night Former NJ Woman Accused In DWI Crash That Killed Bride On Wedding Night
Former NJ Woman Accused In DWI Crash That Killed Bride On Wedding Night A former New Jersey resident is facing charges in a golf cart crash that killed a bride and injured her groom on their wedding night. Jamie Lee Komoroski, 25, a Hunterdon County native, is being held in a South Carolina jail nearly two weeks after she drunkenly rear-ended the golf cart that 34-year-old Samantha Miller and her husband, Aric Hutchinson, were riding in, in Folly Beach, SC. Police have said Komoroski was in a rental car going 65 mph in a 25 mph zone when she rear-ended the golf cart carrying Miller and Hutchinson, who were being escorted from their wedding party. While still i…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Englewood Officers Injured While Arresting Unruly Driver: Police Englewood Officers Injured While Arresting Unruly Driver: Police
Englewood Officers Injured While Arresting Unruly Driver: Police A driver was in custody after an incident on Saturday that sent two Englewood police officers to the hospital. Officers responding to a call of a parked driver who appeared unconscious found Alpha Diallo, 28, of Englewood in a BMW sedan with New York license plates on West Englewood Avenue near Humphrey Street a little after 11 a.m. on April 22, Lt. Fred Pulice said. Officers Michael McCue and Michael Holland banged on the driver's side window but had trouble waking him, the lieutenant said. Once he came to, Diallo ignored the officers, put the car in gear and tried to maneuver out of a ti…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
3 Hospitalized In Horrific Hit-And-Run Head-On In Teaneck, DWI Driver Caught Hiding In Dumpster 3 Hospitalized In Horrific Hit-And-Run Head-On In Teaneck, DWI Driver Caught Hiding In Dumpster
3 Hospitalized In Horrific Hit-And-Run Head-On In Teaneck, DWI Driver Caught Hiding In Dumpster A driver from Englewood dove into a Dumpster and was captured after running from the scene of a horrific head-on crash on Cedar Lane in Teaneck, police said. Responding officers were pointed toward an alleyway where Felix Veloz had fled following the collision shortly after 11:30 p.m. Sunday, March 19, Lt. Kevin Marrero said. The impact knocked a Jeep Compass driven by Veloz onto the sidewalk and into a building on Cedar Lane's north side between Lincoln Place and Elm Avenue. A female driver and male passenger of a Toyota Sienna, both 57 years old from Englewood, were extricated by Teanec…

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by Jerry DeMarco