Drunk Driver Nearly Hits N.J. Cops At New Year's Day Crash That Killed 13-Year-Old Girl

Officers were nearly hit by a drunk driver while responding to a crash that killed a 13-year-old girl on New Year’s Day, police said.

A 27-year-old N.J. man was arrested after nearly hitting officers responding to the crash, police said.

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The incident occurred Route 1 was closed in both directions from Henderson Road to Beekman Road in South Brunswick as police, fire, and EMS were treating people injured in a crash, police said.

The emergency workers were all in the northbound lanes of the highway, when a Nissan Maxima went around a police car blocking the southbound lanes at Henderson Road at 6:07 a.m.

The Maxima continued southbound on the closed highway and Sgt. Mike Rogers had to move out of the roadway to avoid being struck, police said.

Rogers got into his patrol car and was able to catch up to the Maxima at New Road. The driver, Shawn Morrison, 27, of North Brunswick was later found to be intoxicated and to be in possession of marijuana.

He was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, DWI, refusal to submit to a breathalyzer, reckless driving, two counts of failing to obey officers signals, failure to keep right , driving on a closed roadway, CDS in a motor vehicle, and failure to maintain a lane.

He was released pending his first court appearance