Teen Drunk Driver 'Catapulted Into The Air' On Route 17, Hit Building: Mahwah Police

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ —A teen was charged with drunk driving last week after he "catapulted" off Route 17 in Mahwah and slammed into the second floor of a building, said Mahwah police.

Police say that just after midnight on June 28, Sgt. Martin Kilroy was on patrol when he happened to see the teen — who was heading north on Route 17 — lose control near the West Ramapo Avenue off ramp.

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"The vehicle veered off of the highway and catapulted through the air," said a police spokesman.

It struck the second floor of a building located on West Ramapo Avenue, police say.

When Kilroy got to the crash scene, the driver and passenger had gotten out of the car. The building was under construction and no one was inside, police said.

Mahwah EMS evaluated the passenger and driver, both of whom said they weren't injured. The passenger, a 17-year-old boy, was later taken to the hospital by his parents, police said.

The male driver was charged with driving while intoxicated. He was also served with several motor vehicle summonses and released to a guardian, police said.

The crash is still under investigation, and police may file more charges in the future, they said on Thursday.