Driver Was Drunk When He Slammed Into River Edge Building, Injuring 3: Officials

RIVER EDGE, NJ — A Bergen County man was charged with assault by auto after he drove into a building in River Edge just before 3 a.m. Wednesday — injuring himself and two other people, prosecutors said.

Johan M. Valencia-Restrepo, 35, of New Milford, was charged with two counts of assault by auto and related motor vehicle offenses, said the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday.

Prosecutors said that at approximately 2:55 a.m., the River Edge Police Department responded to a serious motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Kinderkamack Road and Midland Avenue.

The SUV had left the roadway, crashed into a building at the intersection, and caught fire, prosecutors said.

Valencia-Restrepo and his 32-year-old female passenger were taken to the hospital to be treated for serious injuries, prosecutors said.

A resident of the apartments in the building suffered minor injuries and was also treated at the hospital, prosecutors said.

A police report obtained by Patch said the resident suffered from smoke inhalation, and then suffered abrasions to his left leg as he climbed down the fire escape.

The report also notes that the female passenger suffered from a broken femur.

Prosecutors said an investigation determined that Valencia-Restrepo, while "suspected of being under the influence of alcohol," was driving the vehicle east on Midland Avenue approaching Kinderkamack Road.

Then, he "failed to negotiate either a left- hand or right-hand turn," prosecutors said.

The vehicle continued straight, left the roadway, and crashed into the building, prosecutors said.

The police report accuses Valencia-Restrepo of driving while intoxicated, and says police smelled alcohol on him when they arrived. Police also observed bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, the report says.

Valencia-Restrepo remained hospitalized and in the custody of the River Edge Police Department as of Wednesday, police said. When he's released, he'll be transferred into the custody of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for a first appearance in Superior Court in Hackensack, prosecutors said.

The crash had temporarily closed a portion of Kinderkamack Road during morning rush hour on Wednesday.

NJ Transit announced a detour for Bus Route 165 through River Edge and Westwood, which was still in place as of 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.