Crime & Safety

Drunk Driver Hit 2 Cop Cars, Point Beach McDonald's Drive Thru

The suspect drove up and over curbs, swerved all over nearby roads and hit a telephone pole in a wild ride at, and near, the McDonald's.

A driver hit two police cars before damaging a McDonald's drive-thru in Point Pleasant Beach Tuesday in a wild ride through the surrounding area.

Police said the suspect drove up and over curbs in the drive-thru, swerved all over nearby roads, bounced off curbs on Route 35 and hit a telephone pole. Both cops were treated at a health care center and then released.

The suspect was identified as Donald Wilson Jr., 38, of Point Pleasant. He was charged with driving while intoxicated and other offenses.

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The incident happened at 12:05 a.m., when the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department received a 9-1-1 call about a possible intoxicated driver. The caller said the driver of an SUV was driving up and over curbs and was all over the road before he entered the drive-thru area of the McDonald’s on Route 35.

As officers arrived at the area, the driver exited the McDonald’s parking lot and began to drive north on Route 35. Officers observed the driver swerving from one side of the road to the other and hitting curbs. Sgt. Clinton Daniel and K-9 Officer Kyle Boturla activated lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the driver.

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The driver of the SUV disregarded the signals from the officers and continued driving, then turned around and drove down Route 35 southbound after failing to stop at the stop sign.

The driver then struck a telephone pole near the McDonald's on Route 35. After striking the pole, the driver again entered the parking lot of McDonald's and drove the SUV into Daniel’s patrol vehicle multiple times. The SUV again attempted to flee the area, but instead drove head-on into Cpl. Christopher Mosca’s patrol vehicle.

The suspect was then placed under arrest.

The patrol officers involved in the crash sustained no life-threatening injuries and were transported to the Ocean Care Center in Point Pleasant, where they were treated for injuries and later released. Officers from Bay Head, Mantoloking and Point Pleasant Boro Police Departments assisted.

The McDonalds at 520 Route 35 sustained property damage when the suspect struck a light pole with his SUV. Wilson sustained no injuries and was evaluated and released from Hackensack Meridian Health in Brick.

Photo: Google Earth

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