It may seem incredible to some people, but teenage drinking is not an isolated problem here in New Jersey. As Ocean, Passaic and Middlesex County drunk driving defense lawyers, I and my staff see a variety of individuals come through our doors seeking help with DWI, DUI and breath test refusal charges. We also know of families whose teens and preteens have been charged with underage possession and driving under the influence.
According to a news article, Point Pleasant police picked up a youngster who allegedly crashed a stolen vehicle into a local place of business. Based on police reports, the incident took place in the early morning hours on a Sunday when a 15-year-old male crashed a pickup truck into a building apparently after a brief police pursuit.
It all happened after an off-duty patrolman noticed a 1996 Dodge Ram pickup being driven erratically without its headlamps on just before 4am. The officer reportedly followed the vehicle into a nearby community, catching up to the apparently drunken youngster along Trenton Ave. When the officer attempted to stop the truck, the young driver allegedly drove away from the officer, who gave pursuit.
Reaching Ocean Avenue, the boy reportedly lost control of the pickup as he was attempting to turn onto Homestead Ave. and hit the Fortees Realty building located at the intersection of the two roads.
Based on police reports, the teen then jumped out of the vehicle and ran away on foot. He was subsequently found hiding in a nearby backyard and taken into custody by Point Pleasant police officers. According to news reports, the local fire department had to shut off the natural gas and electrical supplies to the building, as well as clean up a fluid spill from the stolen truck.
During their investigation, police were able to determine that the pickup had been taken from a home on Creek Road in Brick, NJ, earlier that evening. As a result of the arrest, the teenager was charged with receiving stolen property, eluding police, driving while intoxicated and a number of other traffic violations.
Point Pleasant, NJ police: Boy, 15 charged with DWI after crashing stolen pick-up into building, DailyRecord.com, September 22, 2010