Drunken Driver Hits Mailbox, Street Sign and Leaves Scene, Police Say

A Panther Valley resident was charged with drunken driving after hitting a mailbox and street sign last week on Washington Street, Hackettstown Police said.

Corey Cruz, 23, was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, maintenance of lamps, failure to produce a registration card, leaving the scene of a crash and failure to report a motor vehicle crash.

According to Sgt. Darren Tynan, Cruz was pulled over on Franklin Street for a moving violation at about 2:10 a.m. Saturday. The officer detected a smell of alcohol on the driver, who then failed field sobriety tests, Tynan said.

Officers determined Cruz was traveling southbound on Washington Street when he lost control of his 2013 Mazda before he was later pulled over, Tynan said. The vehicle struck a mailbox and a street sign near Little Street and Cruz continued driving until he was pulled over, Tynan said.

Cruz was charged and released pending a court appearance.