SPARTA TOWNSHIP, NJ (Sussex County) – A Morris County man was charged with driving while intoxicated Monday morning after he crashed his vehicle into a telephone pole, according to Sparta Township Police.
James Duva, 54, of Parsippany was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while suspended, careless driving, unlicensed driver and operating his vehicle with a suspended license for a prior DWI.
On Sept. 23, at around 9:30 p.m., a township officer was patrolling Route 181 in the area of Mara Blvd, when the officer observed a Ford that was off the roadway and into a telephone pole, police said.
The officer observed Duva sitting in the vehicle, trying to get it to start. When the officer asked what happened, Duva allegedly stated that he swerved to avoid hitting a deer, police said.
The officer suspected Duva was allegedly intoxicated and asked him to step out of his vehicle to perform field sobriety tests. Upon completion of the testing, he was placed under arrest for DWI and transported to Sparta Police Headquarters, police said.
The vehicle was removed from the woods and impounded, police said.
Duva had a $500 Parsippany warrant and a $680 Sparta Township warrant. He was given new court dates for the warrants and advised of a mandatory court appearance.
Duva complained that his shoulder hurt and requested to be transported to Newton Hospital. Duva was later released pending a court appearance.
