Hit-and-Run Driver Was Drunk: Hackettstown Police

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ - A 45-year-old Independence Township man fled the scene of an accident and was charged with drunk driving on July 22, according to the Hackettstown Police Department.

According to authorities, shortly before 8 p.m. the Hackettstown Police responded to Route 517 for a report of a driver following a vehicle that was reportedly involved in a hit-
and-run crash in Independence Township.

The officer located the suspect's vehicle stopped on Route 46 at Liberty Street and while the officer was talking to the driver, who was identified as Rigoberto Rivera, the officer detected the odor an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle, police said.

Rigoberto was charged with driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to breath test, reckless driving, and violation of touring privileges, police said.

Rigoberto was released pending a court appearance.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.