Passaic County Man Faces DWI Charge After Fair Lawn Chase: Police

FAIR LAWN, NJ — A Hewitt man was injured in a car crash after he forced a Fair Lawn police officer off the road before engaging in a chase, police said. He faces charges of eluding and driving while intoxicated.

Fair Lawn Police said Officer Brad Pindyck was traveling on Route 208 northbound just before 12 p.m. Wednesday when he noticed a car being driven "erratically" behind him. Eventually, the driver of the car, Sean Fachner, 39, of Hewitt, "tailgated" Pindyck's vehicle, which forced Pindyck to the shoulder to avoid a crash.

After letting Fachner pass him, Pindyck engaged in a car chase after Fachner refused to pull over. Police said the chase continued north while Fachner traveled at speeds up to 100 mph.

Fair Lawn Police handed the pursuit to Hawthorne Police, and then Franklin Lakes Police until Fachner crashed off the roadway on the ramp to Interstate 287 South, police said.

Fachner was transported by the Franklin Lakes Volunteer Ambulance Corps to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson for treatment of a non-life threatening head laceration, police said.

He was released at the medical center after being charged with DWI and eluding. Additional motor vehicle charges are pending, police said.