
Woman charged with DWI after crashing car avoiding deer in Sussex County
SPARTA TOWNSHIP, NJ (Sussex County) – A Sussex County woman was charged with DWI after allegedly crashing her car while trying to avoid a deer in Sparta Township.
On January 12, at around 11:22 p.m., police responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash on Main Street near West Mountain Road. Upon arrival, officers found the vehicle overturned on its driver’s side. The driver, identified as Melissa Pellegrino, 34, of Ogdensburg Borough, was still in the vehicle and reported severe leg pain, officials said.
The Sparta Township Fire Department (STFD) worked to extract Pellegrino, while emergency medical services (EMS) and paramedics from Saint Clare’s Medical Center provided assistance. During the investigation, officers learned that Pellegrino swerved to avoid a deer, causing her vehicle to overturn. The crash resulted in significant damage, including a utility pole that was split at its base, police said.
Further investigation revealed that Pellegrino’s driver’s license was suspended. Officers also detected the odor of alcohol on her breath, and she admitted to consuming alcohol at a local bar prior to the crash. A partially consumed bottle of vodka was also discovered near the scene, police said.
Due to the severity of the crash and Pellegrino’s injuries, field sobriety tests were not conducted. She was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) and transported to Morristown Hospital. A court-approved warrant was obtained to draw her blood for further investigation, police said.
Pellegrino was issued summonses for DWI, careless driving, failure to maintain lane, driving with a suspended license, and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle, police said.
The Sparta Township Police Department reminds all residents to drive responsibly and never operate a vehicle under the influence.