Things got Fishy For 42-Year Old NJ Woman Charged With DWI

I think most of us could ascribe to the idea of getting closer to nature. For one Hackettstown, New Jersey woman, getting close to nature was much more than just a hopeful wish, as her car plunged head-first into a fish hatchery off an abandoned road in Warren County.

42-year-old Michelle Clarke was found sitting on top of her sinking car, flagging down police when they found her in the public park at 2:05AM on Monday August 13, 2018.

The Charles O. Hayford State Fish Hatchery in Hackettstown, NJ has a long-standing history in the Garden State and is home to 15 different species of cold and warm water fish. The fish hatchery has two locations, and fortunately there were no fish in the pond at the time of the accident, as most of the business is conducted at the other location.

Police rescued Clarke and was brought in with charges of driving while intoxicated (DWI). Clarke was also charged with driving an unauthorized vehicle into the park, which can only be accessed off a dirt road. Currently, Clarke has been released and is set to have a court appearance soon.

DUI penalties in New Jersey are very harsh. A first offense alone could land you in jail for 30 days, a 3-month suspended driver's license, and up to a $400 fine.