An apparently drunken out-of-state driver was taken into custody by Hoboken police after an early morning car-pedestrian traffic accident that resulted in the serious injury of a local man, according to news reports. Police said that the accident occurred around 1am on a Thursday morning right in front of Hoboken City Hall.
As a New Jersey DWI defense lawyer, I’m well aware of the complications that an injury accident can add to a drunken driving case. Fortunately for the driver, 38-year-old Pamela Currie, the injured man was not killed as a result; a fatal accident involving driving under the influence of alcohol can be quite serious and may lead to extensive jail time depending on the circumstances.
According to the news, Currie was driving a red Nissan Xterra southbound on Washington Street prior to the collision. Police reports also indicate that a male passenger was traveling in the vehicle as well. Based on reports, if it is determined that the passenger was sober at the time of the crash then that individual could be hit with a fine for allowing an intoxicated person to operate a motor vehicle.
Police stated that the driver appeared to be drunk as she stepped out of the car to take a field sobriety test. According to reports, one witness said that the pedestrian was thrown approximately seven feet before hitting the pavement on his left side. One of the man’s shoes was found about 15 feet from where he landed. Police reportedly said that skid marks measured at the scene indicated that the driver was likely speeding at the time of the accident.
The injured pedestrian was taken by ambulance to a local Hoboken hospital. Currie’s vehicle was towed away to a municipal garage. At the time of the report, investigators were still looking into the crash, however Currie was reportedly charged with aggravated assault by auto and refusal to submit to chemical blood-alcohol (BAC) test.
Update: Pedestrian Struck; Driver Arrested For DWI, HobokenPatch.com, June 3, 2010