Jersey City Man Caused DWI Collision In Secaucus, Police Say

SECAUCUS, NJ — Secaucus Police say that on Tuesday night, Feb. 9, a Jersey City man driving drunk caused a head-on collision with another car, where both drivers were injured. The allegedly drunk Jersey City man became trapped in his car and had to be pulled out by Secaucus firefighters; from there he was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center.

The head-on crash occurred at 10:07 p.m. Feb. 9 in the area of 101 Paterson Plank Road. Mark Ortiz, 39, of Jersey City, was driving a 2002 Honda Civic when his car crossed over the yellow lines into oncoming traffic, crashing into a 2008 BMW.

The collision sent the BMW up into a snow embankment leaving the driver, an 18-year-old Nutley resident, with minor injuries.

Ortiz was trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated by the Secaucus Fire Department. He was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

Ortiz was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and two counts of assault by auto.

“I am thankful that nobody suffered serious injuries or lost their life as a result of this crash,”
Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Secaucus Traffic Bureau. Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Secaucus Police Department Traffic Bureau at 201-809-4603 or traffic@secaucus.net.

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