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The unidentified woman pulled into the checkpoint off Asbury Park Circle in Ocean Township at night on Friday, May 31, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Friday, June 7. She was talking with a county sheriff's officer when became disoriented and passed out behind the wheel.
More officers came over to the car, put it in park, and got her out of it. She was given three doses of Narcan and regained consciousness.
Wanamassa paramedics brought the woman to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. She was treated and released from the Neptune hospital.
Prosecutors said summonses are pending for the woman.
"This weekend’s DWI check acted as a safety net for not only this driver but other residents and motorists who may have been in the vicinity at the time of the medical emergency," Santiago said in a statement. "I shudder to think of what may have happened if this driver wasn’t stopped at this checkpoint and continued driving down the road when the emergency took place. I’d like to thank our officers and medical personnel, whose quick actions saved a life and prevented what could have been a much worse outcome for everyone involved."
Officers stopped 686 vehicles at the checkpoint, issuing nine summonses and making one arrest.
"I think this incident shows just how important these checkpoints are," said Allenhurst Police Chief Michael Schneider, who's also the coordinator of the county's DWI task force. "It’s extremely likely that pulling into this checkpoint saved this woman’s life. We have an extremely successful program in Monmouth County, and I think this puts an exclamation point on just how important these checkpoints are in keeping our roads safe."
The checkpoint was closed for about 30 minutes as first responders treated the woman.
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