Waretown Man Charged With Drunk Driving After Smashing Into Traffic Light

Stafford Township police recently charged a Waretown man with drunk driving after he crossed into the center of Route 9 and struck a traffic light pole, Patrolman Christopher Fritz said.

Police responded to the single-vehicle accident at 6:20 p.m. on Feb. 2 at the intersection of Route 9 and East Bay Avenue. Investigation revealed that Michael Minelli, 54, was traveling north on Route 9 when his vehicle veered into the center of the intersection and struck the center signal on the north side of the intersection, he said.

The signal fell over into the southbound lane of Route 9. Minelli was taken to Southern Ocean Medical Center for minor injuries, Fritz said.

Minelli was later issued summonses for driving while intoxicated, driving with an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane, Fritz said.

Crews from the state Department of Transportation responded and replaced the damaged traffic signal, he said.