Lacey Drunk Driver Seriously Hurts Pedestrian, Flees Scene: Cops

LACEY, NJ — A drunk driver struck and seriously injured a pedestrian before leaving the scene Saturday afternoon in Lacey, police said. Eleazar Cholula-Garcia struck a 31-year-old woman walking east on Bay Way from Route 9, according to Lacey Police Sergeant Robert Flynn.

The unidentified victim was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center with a serious bodily injury, Flynn said. Authorities found Cholula-Garcia around Route 9 and Haines Street.

Cholula-Garcia, 31, of Forked River, was charged with the following:

• knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury (third-degree)
• assault by auto while DWI (third-degree)
• endangering an injured victim (third-degree)
• causing serious bodily harm while unlicensed (fourth-degree)
• unlicensed driving
• driving while impaired
• reckless driving
• failure to maintain lane
• leaving the scene of an accident
• driving while using a cell phone

He remains in Ocean County Jail.

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