Cranford Teen Crashed Stolen Car Drunk, Fled Scene: Police

CRANFORD, NJ - An 18-year-old Cranford man was arrested and charged with a slew of offenses including driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of the accident on Sept. 7, according to the Cranford Police Department.

According to authorities, Patrolman Nicholas Cook stopped Elijah Martinez in a 2002 GMC on Bloomingdale Avenue and Elizabeth Avenue for unclear plates. Following an investigation on scene, Cook arrested the driver, Elijah Martinez, for driving while intoxicated, police said.

It was later determined that the 2002 GMC was stolen from Cranford earlier that evening and had been involved in a motor vehicle crash. Martinez was also charged with receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and obstruction, police said.

He was processed and provided with a Superior Court appearance date.

In addition, he was issued motor vehicle summonses for unclear plates, driving an unregistered vehicle, maintenance of lamps, unlicensed driver, failure to exhibit a driver’s license, failure to exhibit a registration card, failure to exhibit an insurance card, no insurance, failure to inspect, careless driving, using a vehicle without owner’s consent, leaving the scene of a crash and failure to report a crash, police said.

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