Man Struck 4 Hoboken Cars, Had Open Beer Can, Police Say

Editor's Note: One or more names in this report have been redacted in light of additional documentation provided regarding this case.

HOBOKEN, NJ — A 40-year-old Bergen County man has been charged with Driving While Intoxicated and other charges after hitting four parked cars in Hoboken, police said.

Police said that early on St. Patrick's Day — Sunday, March 17 —at approximately 7:40 a.m., Police Officers Bianca Arroyo,
Marvin DeJesus, and Andrias Bonilla responded to the 500 block of Bloomfield Street on reports of a motor vehicle accident "with the driver of the striking vehicle trying to flee the scene."

Police saw a man who fit the description of the suspect and ordered him to stop, police said. The man did.

Police said that the man, later identified as 40-year-old Erik Carollo of East Rutherford, had struck a total of four parked cars.

"The officers observed an open beer can in the cup holder of Carollo’s car," police noted. "Carollo had injuries consistent with a recent accident and the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps arrived on the scene to treat Carollo."

He refused any further medical attention, police said.

Officer Bonilla conducted a standardized field sobriety test after which Carolla was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated, police said. He was taken to Hoboken Police Headquarters, where he was also charged with a open container.

As per John’s Law, he was released into the custody of a responsible party. The law prevents a person arrested for DWI from operating a motor vehicle after their arrest, and impounds their car.

The law was passed after a 21-year-old New Jersey man, who was a Naval Ensign, was killed by a drunk driver in 2000. In that 2000 case, the driver had been arrested for a DWI earlier in the evening, was picked up by a friend, but then got back behind the wheel.