Drunk Driver Behind Wheel in Car Fire Crash, Cops Say

A fire that burst out after a Jeep Liberty crashed into a parked tractor-trailer on Route 17 in Ramsey early Saturday morning was likely caused by a drunk driver, police said Monday.

According to Police Chief Bryan Gurney, Renato Coda, 35, of Clifton, was driving his Jeep north on Route 17 at 2:36 a.m. Saturday when he crashed into a tractor-trailer that was parked on the highway in front of the Dunkin Donuts.

The car was fully involved when the RFD arrived on scene, and about a quarter of the truck, which was carting flooring materials in cardboard boxes, burned in the blaze, Fire Chief Randy Sterbinsky said.

Both drivers were able to get out of their vehicles, authorities said.

“Coda had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and appeared to be intoxicated,” Gurney said. He was cited for reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, and driving while intoxicated, police said. Coda was transported to Valley Hospital to treat minor injuries, and for blood alcohol content testing, police said.

The truck driver was cited for “failure to park off the roadway,” Gurney said.

According to Sterbinsky, the RFD was on scene for about two hours fighting the fire.

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