PARSIPPANY — A Lake Hiawatha man was charged with assault by auto and leaving the scene of an accident after fleeing a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of North Beverwyck Road and Vail Road on Monday, June 1, and was later arrested that evening on a driving-while-intoxicated charge, according to Patrol Officer Jaime Mendez of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department.
According to Patrol Officer Mendez, the crash occurred at approximately 7:48 p.m. when a vehicle traveling southbound on North Beverwyck Road ran a red light at a high rate of speed and struck a second vehicle that was crossing the intersection westbound on Vail Road with the right of way. The driver of the second vehicle, Michael R. Lambert, 34, of Lake Hiawatha, reported the crash to police.
Patrol Officer Mendez said the striking vehicle fled the scene southbound on North Beverwyck Road, an act captured on traffic camera footage. His investigation determined the driver caused the crash due to unsafe speed and failure to observe the traffic signal, and that the vehicle was uninsured at the time.
Later that evening, at approximately 8:40 p.m., Patrol Officer Mendez was conducting a driving-while-intoxicated investigation in the area of Oneida Avenue involving Miguel Angel Salazar Salazar, 30, of Lake Hiawatha. After Salazar Salazar was administered a standard field sobriety test, Patrol Officer Mendez placed him under arrest on a charge of driving under the influence and transported him to the Montville Police Department for an Alcotest breath examination.
Patrol Officer Mendez subsequently charged Salazar Salazar in connection with the original crash with the following offenses:
- Assault by auto
- Leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury
- Failure to report an accident
- Driving under the influence
- Failure to exhibit a driver’s license
- Failure to exhibit vehicle registration
- Failure to exhibit an insurance card
- Driving while suspended
- Operating a vehicle in unsafe condition
- Improper maintenance of lamps
- Delaying traffic
- Disregarding a traffic control device
- Improper lane usage (traffic on marked lanes)
- Reckless driving
- Careless driving
Editor’s Note: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
