Car careens through Wyckoff shopping center

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: A car driven by a 60-year-old Franklin Lakes man trying to elude police barreled through the parking lot of a Wyckoff shopping center, mounting the sidewalk and nearly hitting pedestrians, after hitting a stop sign.

Photo Credit: *Cliffview Pilot File Photo*

Jerry DeMarco

02/01/2013 7:14 p.m.

Patrolman Kyle Ferreira said he spotted the car veer off the exit from Route 208 at Cedar Hill Avenue and hit the sign Wednesday afternoon.

Ferreira got of his car and approached the vehicle, which suddenly backed from the sign and continued along Cedar Hill Avenue, Chief Benjamin Fox said.

“The driver then entered the Cedar Hill Shopping Center by driving over the curb and center island at the entrance,” Fox said this afternoon.

“The vehicle then mounted the curb in front of Walgreen’s Pharmacy, and drove partially on the sidewalk, nearly striking pedestrians” before finally coming to a stop in the lot, the chief said.

A breath test “indicated no presence of alcohol,” but a drug test showed that James E. Newman of Bentley Drive was “impaired by narcotics,” Fox said.

Police charged Newman driving while under the influence, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash, and failure to maintain his lane of travel.

He was released to his sister pending an appearance in Wyckoff Municipal Court.

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