SPARTA TOWNSHIP, NJ (Sussex County) – An alleged drunk driver struck a Sparta Township police vehicle that was parked at the scene of an earlier crash.
On Sept. 3, at around 10:09 p.m., officers were on the scene of a motor vehicle crash that occurred on Route 15 southbound at the 11.5-mile marker in Sparta Township, police said.
Officers arrived at the scene and promptly set up a cone line to secure the area and positioned the patrol vehicle within the cone line with the emergency lights activated to ensure traffic safety, police said.
While assessing the damage to the vehicle involved in the initial crash, the officers heard the sudden sound of tires squealing followed by a loud collision. The officers quickly determined that a passing motorist, driving a gray Ford, had struck the patrol vehicle, police said.
The officers immediately responded to assist the dirver, who was identified as Nicole C. Romeo, 43, of Hamburg Borough, police said.
When officers asked if she was injured, Romeo confirmed that she was not hurt. However, as the officers spoke with her, they allegedly detected the odor of alcohol on her breath and noted that her speech was slurred. She informed officers that she had a glass of wine earlier in the day, police said.
When questioned about the incident, Romeo claimed she did not realize the vehicle she struck was a police car, despite the fact that all emergency lights were activated. She further admitted to looking down at her phone just prior to the collision, police said.
She also informed the officers that she did not posses a valid driver’s license and has not driven a motor vehicle for several years, police said.
Officers on the scene administered a series of field sobriety tests, which she did not satisfactorily complete and was arrest for driving while intoxicated, police said.
Romeo was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while suspended, driving without a valid license, use of a mobile device while driving, careless driving, reckless driving, failure to produce a valid insurance card, open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, and traffic on marked lanes.
Romeo was released to a sober adult pending a court appearance, police said.
“The Sparta Police Department continues to emphasize the dangers of impaired and distracted driving and reminds all motorists to remain vigilant and safe while on the roads,” police said.
