5-Car DWI Crash In Holland Tunnel Shuts Down Traffic: Police

Port Authority police arrested an allegedly intoxicated driver after he slammed into several vehicles inside the Holland Tunnel and ground traffic to a standstill last weekend, authorities say.

Multiple callers told police that a driver later identified as Kauri Qualls Jr., 22, of Metuchen, crashed his 1999 Honda Civic into several vehicles inside the New York-bound portion of the tunnel around 12:50 p.m. on Saturday.

The callers reported that Qualls allegedly hit the cars while attempting to flee the scene, police stated.

Port Authority police stopped traffic due to the accidents, then responded to the scene on foot and spoke with Qualls, who had slurred speech “bloodshot” and “watery” eyes. The officers also noted that Qualls’ car – which was propped up on the back bumper of a 2016 Chevrolet SUV that he struck - was still in drive when they arrived, authorities said.

Authorities said that three other cars were involved in the accident: a 2015 Ford Fusion, a 2015 Cadillac SRX and a 2011 Toyota. All parties at the scene refused medical attention.

Police arrested Qualls after he refused to take a field sobriety test and charged him with DWI, DWI Refusal to Submit, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Reckless Driving, Having No Front Plate and Improper Passing/Lane Change.

Authorities closed the south tube of the tunnel from 12:56 to 1:20 p.m. as a result of the incident.

Holland Tunnel File Photo: Flickr Commons, Marvin Kuo