DWI Motorist Hit Bicycle Rider With Car In Maplewood: Police

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A Warren County resident has been accused of driving while intoxicated after allegedly hitting a bicyclist in Maplewood last month, authorities announced Tuesday.

According to the Maplewood Police Department, officers responded to Parker Avenue and Orchard Road around 7 p.m. on Feb. 25.

Witnesses reported that a BMW SUV traveling eastbound on Parker Avenue struck the cyclist and fled the scene, continuing southbound toward Fernwood Avenue – while still dragging the bicycle.

Emergency responders including EMS workers with the South Essex Fire Department provided medical aid to the bicyclist at the scene. The victim was later transported to a nearby hospital for further evaluation, police said.

Maplewood police partnered with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey State Police on their investigation into the incident.

Authorities said they eventually identified the driver as 47-year-old Helen Barrera of Phillipsburg.

Barrera was charged with second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree assault by auto, and third-degree endangering an injured victim. Barrera was also issued summonses for driving while intoxicated, careless driving, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury, failure to possess a driver’s license, registration, or insurance card, and failure to exhibit documents (insurance card).

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