Route 202 Closed For 10 Hours After Driver Knocks Over Utility Pole, Charged With DWI

RARITAN, NJ — A Tenafly woman was charged with driving while intoxicated after police say she crashed into two utility poles and numerous signs on Route 202 in Raritan.

On Sunday, Oct. 10 at 12:48 a.m., a crash was reported with a car into a pole and wires down across Route 202 near First Avenue, said Raritan Police Sergeant Everett Holt.

Raritan officers found that Cheryl Kouvel, 54, of Tenafly, drove off Route 202 south and sideswiped a telephone pole on the highway near Leland Street, said Holt.

Kouvel then hit another pole head-on near the First Avenue jug handle and hit numerous directional signs on the highway before coming to a stop next to another telephone pole, said Holt.

Kouvel was placed under arrest for DWI and taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

The highway was shut down in both directions for nearly 10 hours while the State Department of Transportation, PSE&G and Verizon responded.

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