Drunken Driver Causes Three-Vehicle Collision, Cops Say

Linwood Darden, 81, of North Plainfield, was charged with drunken driving and reckless driving at about 8 p.m. Saturday after causing a three-vehicle accident at the intersection of Route 22 and Terrill Road, Watchung police said.

Police said Darden was driving in the westbound lane of Route 22 when his 2002 Cadillac hit the rear of a 2002 Audi driven by Nika Archemashvili, of Old Bidge, which was forced into the rear of a 2005 Nissan driven by Plainfield resident Ivan Byron.

Byron, and his two passengers, ages 9 and 15, were taken to Overlook Medical Center for treatment of pain reported at the scene.

Darden also was charged with refusing to provide breath samples.