Drunk Driver Causes Overturned Jeep Crash In Montgomery: Police

MONTGOMERY, NJ — A drunk driver who crashed into a Martinsville man caused a Jeep to overturn and then fled from the scene, police report. On Saturday, April 8, at 2:32 p.m., Montgomery Police, Montgomery EMS, and Montgomery Fire Company No. 2, responded to Rt. 601 near Rt. 518 for the reported motor vehicle crash involving an overturned vehicle. Upon arriving at the scene, a 2010 Jeep was found overturned onto its driver side in the southbound lane of Route 601 and a 2007 Scion was disabled resting against an iron fence to the Blawenburg cemetery off Rt. 601 southbound.

The driver of the Jeep, George Schofield Jr., 85, of Martinsville, was helped out of the vehicle by bystanders and suffered a laceration to his head, Montgomery Police reported.

The driver of the Scion was seen by witnesses fleeing the scene shortly after the crash. A short time later Montgomery Police located the second driver, Ernesto Layton, 42, of Lawrenceville and returned him to the scene.

Police determined Schofield was traveling south on Rt. 601 and Layton was operating the Scion northbound on Route 601. Layton said he was attempting to turn into a driveway off Rt. 601 southbound and entered the southbound lane and struck Schofield’s vehicle, causing it to rollover, police reported.

Schofield was transported to University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro along with an adult passenger in his vehicle. Layton was transported to University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro with a complaint of pain.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene. During the scene investigation Layton exhibited signs of being intoxicated, police reported.

Layton was issued motor vehicle summonses for DWI, driving while suspended, unlicensed driver, failure to maintain lane, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident and having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. He is scheduled to appear in Montgomery Twp. Municipal Court.

Route 601 was shut down for approximately an hour and half during the scene investigation.

Other Montgomery Police Blotter items:

On Wednesday April 12, at 3:25 p.m.: Montgomery Police stopped Shabbir Helaly, 39, with addresses in New York, NY and Skillman, NJ after observing him using a handheld cellphone while operating a vehicle on Route 518. During the motor vehicle stop Helaly was found to have an active warrant for $500 from Plainsboro Municipal Court and his driving privileges in New Jersey were found to be suspended. Helaly was placed under arrest and transported to Montgomery Twp. Police Department for processing. He posted bail and was issued motor vehicle summonses for using a cell phone while driving and driving while suspended. Helaly is scheduled to appear in Montgomery Twp. Municipal Court.

On Thursday April 13, at 10:45 a.m.: Montgomery Police stopped Darryl Roberts, 50, of Hamilton after observing the vehicle he was operating did not display a New Jersey inspection decal. During the stop the odor of raw marijuana was detected coming from Roberts’ vehicle. A search of the vehicle yielded a bag of marijuana located inside a bag belonging to Roberts. Roberts was placed under arrest and transported to Montgomery Police Department for processing. Roberts was issued a complaint summons for possession of marijuana under 50 grams, motor vehicle summonses for failure to inspect, possession of CDS in a motor vehicle and driving while suspended. He is scheduled to appear in Montgomery Twp. Municipal Court.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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