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Surveillance footage helped investigators find the black 2012 Mazda CX-9 that Carmela Stewart, 53, abandoned with a flat tire and heavy front-end damage on Route 9W in Alpine last Thursday night, Detective Sgt. Tim Farrell said Monday.
Pieces of the SUV remained at the scene as the SUV fled north on River Road after knocking down the poles at the Garden Place intersection shortly before 10:30 p.m., the sergeant said.
“This is the site of the recently installed crosswalk/median with flashing amber lights to alert driver to slow down for crossing pedestrians,” Farrell said.
SEE: New Safety Signals Installed At Dangerous New Jersey Crosswalk
Police issued an alert and got an anonymous tip a short time later, he said.
“The vehicle was driven with heavy front-end damage and a flat tire from the accident scene all the way to Route 9W in Alpine, where it was ultimately abandoned,” Farrell said.
It was towed to a body shop around 7 o’clock the next morning, he said.
Farrell said he and Detective Dale Price went to Stewart’s home, where she “ultimately admitted to driving the vehicle and leaving the scene, providing no reasonable explanation.”
They issued Stewart summonses for leaving the scene of an accident, failing to report it and reckless driving.
She’s due to answer the summonses in Municipal Court on Dec. 19.
PHOTO/INSET: Lisa Liss
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