Driver Ticketed For Rear-Ending Honda Into Guardrail While Swatting At Bug: Hackettstown Police

The crash occurred on Route 57 near Nikitin Way in Hackettstown just after 1:55 p.m. on Sunday, June 11.

The Washington Township (Morris County) man was behind the wheel of a 2014 Tesla heading eastbound when, according to police, “a bug started flying around his face.”

As the Tesla driver tried to swat the bug away, he lost control of the vehicle and rear-ended a 2017 Honda driven by a 19-year-old Washington Township (Warren County) woman, who then struck a guardrail, police said.

The Tesla driver refused treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and was issued a summons for careless driving.

The Independence First Aid Squad also assisted.

Keep these tips in mind if a bug flies into your vehicle when you’re behind the wheel:

• Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. If you’re in heavy traffic, fight the urge to swat the insect away; you could swerve and put other drivers at risk.
• Slow down gradually. Don’t slam on the brakes. Consider putting your hazard lights on to alert other drivers that you’ll be going below the speed limit.
• If you can, pull over. Once you’ve come to a complete stop, go ahead and give your complete attention to shooing the bug out of your car.

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