
Man charged with DWI following crash in Sussex County
SPARTA TOWNSHIP, NJ (Sussex County) – A Sussex County man is facing charges including driving while intoxicated following a motor vehicle crash in Sparta Township.
The crash happened on Nov. 22, at around 5:30 p.m., on Lafayette Road (Route 15) in the area of Primrose Lane, police said.
Upon arrival, officers located a Honda Civic, driven by Eric Schalles, 31 of Lafayette, with front end damage and a Honda Accord with rear-end damage, police said.
While the officer was investigating the crash, Schalles allegedly informed the officer that he had a long day at work, looked down, and when he looked up, he saw the Honda Accord stopped in traffic in front of him before his vehicle struck the Accord, police said.
No injuries were reported, police said.
While speaking with Schalles, the officer suspected that he had consumed alcoholic beverages and was showing signs of impairment, police said.
Schalles was asked to perform a series of field sobriety tests and upon completion of the sobriety tests, he was arrested for DWI and transported to NJ State Police Sussex Barracks for breath testing, police said.
After completion of breath testing, Schalles was transported to Sparta Police Headquarters where he was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and careless driving. He was then released then released pending a court appearance, police said.