Alcohol-Related Crashes Rise With Arrival of Prom and Graduation Season

With the end of the school year in sight and the arrival of prom and graduation season, South Brunswick Police are increasing patrols to catch intoxicated drivers. In the last week, there were several motor vehicle accidents that involved alcohol, which police are pointing to as an indication of the dangers that lurk on roadways this time of year.

"The months of April, May, and June are some of the most dangerous times for young drivers," said Chief Raymond Hayducka. "In two cases, the drivers were not even the legal age to be drinking. None of these cases resulted in serious injury, but each case will cost the drivers thousands of dollars and lost driving privileges."

after his vehicle became airborne and struck a tree just off the shoulder of Route 1 near Executive Drive. Vincent was removed from his car by the Monmouth Junction Fire Department, who used the Jaws of Life to extricate him after he was trapped for about 30 minutes. Vincent suffered a broken ankle and a head laceration in the crash. 

On May 2 at 7:45 a.m., Ajith Sridhar, 20, of East Brunswick, was arrested for drunk driving after a motor vehicle accident on Fresh Ponds Road. Sridhar was charged after he crashed a 2006 Mercedes Benz into a mailbox and tree, according to police. After the crash, Sridhar and two occupants of his vehicle attempted to flee from the scene, police said. The suspects were spotted by an off duty Metuchen police officer, who brought them back to the accident scene. Sridhar was charged with driving while under the influence, reckless driving, failure to report an accident, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident. 

On May 6 at 2:52 a.m., Brian Posik, 23, of Spotswood, crashed into a guardrail on Ridge Road near Chris Court, according to police. Posik called a tow truck to remove the vehicle but he didn't called police. After officers came upon the scene, they determined Posik was intoxicated and he was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, failure to report an accident, and leaving the scene of an accident. 

On May 6 at 3:31 a.m., AnnMarie Deluca, 48, of Jamesburg, was arrested after her 2010 Acura stuck a tree at the Kendall Park First Aid and Fire Department property on Henderson Road, according to police. Deluca was charged with driving under the influence, careless driving, and failure to stay in her lane. 

On Tuesday at 3:03 a.m., Lucien Vermandel, 20, of Palisades, was arrested after his 2012 Honda rear-ended a 2004 Lexus on the northbound side of Route 1. Vermandel was charged with driving under the influence, careless driving, and failure to stay in a lane.  The driver of the Lexus was uninjured. 

In 2010, 551 drivers from age 16 to 19 died during this three-month period, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In many of those deaths, alcohol played a role in the accidents, according to police. More than one-third of people under the age of 21 who were killed in alcohol-related fatalities since 2001 died during the prom and graduation season, according to the NHTSA. 

Over the coming weeks, the South Brunswick Police Department will continue to increase enforcement efforts to stop drunk driving by working in coordination with the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.