Crime & Safety
Wrong Way Drunk Driver Slams Into Pole, Overturns Truck On Route 202: Prosecutor
The Newark man is accused of driving the wrong way on Route 202 before crashing near the intersection of Van Dyke Road, said police.
BRANCHBURG, NJ — A man accused of driving drunk crashed into a utility pole and overturned his pickup truck early Sunday morning on Route 202, according to Somerset County Prosecutor's Office.
Matthew Duarte, 27, of Newark was issued motor vehicle summonses for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and failure to maintain lane by Brancburg Township Police.
On Sept. 11 at around 1:13 a.m., Branchburg Police were called to Route 202 for a report of a truck leaving Bridgewater Township and driving north on the southbound side of the highway at a high rate of speed, said police.
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While checking Route 202 officers found a White Dodge pickup truck that had hit a pole in the area of the intersection of Route 202 and Van Dyke Road.
As police spoke with Duarte, officers suspected that he was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, according to the report.
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The Branchburg Rescue Squad and RWJ Mobile Intensive Care Unit responded and Duarte was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment for the injuries he received from the crash.
The matter is pending in Branchburg Township Municipal Court.
The Branchburg Police request anyone with information relating to this incident to contact the Branchburg Township Police Department at 908-526-3830 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.
Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
The Branchburg Rescue Squad is made up of volunteers who have been providing EMS and rescue services to Branchburg Township since 1955. Volunteers are always needed, if interested contact the squad at branchburgrescue.org.
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