Wrong-Way Drunk Driver Injures Three On Route 35 in Keyport
Two adults and an infant from Keansburg were hospitalized.
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A 22-year old drunk driver traveling in the wrong direction on Route 35 hit another vehicle head-on near Garden State Parkway exit 117, sending its three passengers to the hospital.
The crash occurred at 1:06 a.m. Monday in the southbound lanes.
Keyport Police said that Ethan Rivera, 22 of Old Bridge had a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit. Rivera was drinking at Park East in Hazlet, said Keyport Police Chief George D. Casaleto.
The three victims are residents of Keansburg. Police said they were two adults and one nine-month old baby strapped to its car seat. The Keansburg victims had to be extricated from their vehicle by the Keyport Fire Department and the Keyport First Aid. They were taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center by the Keyport First Aid squad.
Rivera was not injured.
Route 35 was shut down for 3½ hours for the investigation.
The Monmouth County SCART team was called in to assist with the accident.
Criminal charges are still pending. Keyport Police are working with the NJ State Police ABC unit, Hazlet PD and the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office.
If anyone witnessed the accident please contact Ptl. Robert McCartin at the Keyport Police Department 732-264-0706
Barzillai
12:33 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
We dodged a bullet about two years ago on Route 35 N near the Knights of Columbus one evening. A car traveling south on Route 35 N passed us at 50 MPH. The cops were on the southbound side, flashing a spotlight at us, but we never caught on until the car passed us. There seemed to be nothing the cops could do and they were totally on the case. It's scary thinking back on it. The drunk drivers never seem to get injured. Why is that? The innocents get the Jaws of Life yanking them out of their mangled cars. And the drunks stumble away. It isn't fair.
flyerjon
11:32 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
probably coming home from one of those crack infested dive bars in the area
Lindsay Brydges Walsh
12:23 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
@Jonathan if you read the article thoroughly, it was clearly stated the driver left Park East. As a resident in the same neighbourhood and a repeated guest of the business, I beg to differ that it's a crack infested dive. But thanks for giving your glowing review on my neighbourhood and it's businesses!
@Barzillai, sadly the drunk drivers tend to walk about unharmed. I've read many times it has a lot to do with the fact their bodies are actually more relaxed thank to the alcohol thus being more bouncy and flexible during impact. I pray this family is ok.