Woman charged with DWI after being found sleeping behind wheel of running vehicle in Warren County QuickChek parking lot

INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (Warren County) – A Sussex County woman is facing a driving while intoxicated charge after she was allegedly found sleeping behind the wheel in the QuickChek parking lot in Independence Township last month, according to police.

Officers responded to the QuickChek, located on County Route 517, on Jan. 7 for a possible intoxicated person sitting in their vehicle, police said.

Witnesses stated that a woman, who was identified as Shari Hartenstine, 55, of McAfee, pulled into the parking lot, came into the store and appeared to be heavily intoxicated, police said.

Officers made contact with Hartenstine as she sat in her vehicle in the parking lot. Officers found that she was sleeping in the driver seat as the vehicle was running, police said.

Hartenstine was woken up and it was determined through questioning that she had been drinking. A series of field sobriety tests were administered which resulted in her arrest, police said.

She was transported to police headquarters where she was processed for the offense and released, police said.