Police: Leaking Vehicle Leads to Drunken Driver in Hit-and-Run Crash

A drunken driver involved in a hit-and-run accident near the intersection of East Baldwin Street and Route 46 Saturday night was tracked down by the fluids leaking from his vehicle, Hackettstown Police said.

Michael Consalazio, 41, of Allamuchy, was charged with driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash, failure to report a motor vehicle crash and reckless driving.

According to Sgt. Darren Tynan, officers responded to a hit-and-run accident at about 8 p.m. The investigation revealed Consalazio was traveling northbound on East Baldwin Street when he struck another vehicle that was parked along the roadway, Tynan said.

An officer tracked the fluid in the roadway to Consalazio's vehicle, which was parked along the roadway in Panther Valley, Tynan said. Consalazio was inside the vehicle and arrested.

Consalazio was charged and was released pending a court appearance.