NY Man Was Driving 106 MPH In Wrong Lane Before Crash: Prosecutor

RINGWOOD, NJ — A New York man has been charged after the Passaic County Prosecutor said he caused a crash while driving 106-miles-per-hour in the wrong lane of a Ringwood road while under the influence of alcohol.

The man, Derrick Valerio, 33, of Yonkers, is charged with third degree assault by auto and fourth degree assault by auto. He was arrested by Ringwood police on Tuesday.

Valerio was driving in the wrong lane on Greenwood Lake Turnpike on Monday when he collided with another vehicle, operated by Kevin Schaeffer, 19, of Hewitt, New Jersey, and occupied by Riley Lindholm, 22, of Rock Hill, New York, the prosecutor said.

Schaeffer wasn't injured in the crash, but Lindholm was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, where she received treatment for serious injuries, the prosecutor said. Valerio was taken to Chilton Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries.

According to the prosecutor, an investigation revealed that Valerio was driving at 106-miles-per-hour in an area zoned for 45.

He could face three to five years on the third degree assault by auto charge, and up to 18 months on the fourth degree charge. He was released pending further court proceedings, the prosecutor said.

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