SOUTH BRUNSWICK – A man was apprehended for possession of marijuana and a large amount of Xanax following a single car crash attributed to the man allegedly driving while under the influence.
Police dispatchers received a call around 9:01 a.m. Sept. 13 about a single car crash on Route 1 southbound at Sandhill Road.
Upon arrival, Officer Gerald Sarno found that a 1999 Lexus had crashed head-on into the concrete divider at the intersection. Sarno allegedly observed the driver, a 24-year-old male from Ewing, sitting on the grassy shoulder of the roadway, uninjured, according to information provided by the South Brunswick Police Department.
Suspecting that the driver was under the influence, Sarno reportedly gave the man several field-side sobriety tests, which he allegedly failed. The driver was placed under arrest for DUI, and was searched incident to arrest, at which time he was found to possess a small amount of marijuana, as well as 112 bars of Xanax, according to the allegations.
The driver was charged with possession of controlled dangerous substances with intent to distribute, possession of under 50g marijuana, unlawful possession of Xanax, driving under the influence, reckless driving, and other motor vehicle offenses.
He was lodged in the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center pending his bail hearing, as of press time.
“Impaired driving can happen at any time of the day. This driver was on Route 1, impaired, and struck the concrete median at 9 a.m. Sunday morning. Officer Sarno’s detailed investigation discovered the drugs and took this driver off the road. With thousands of cars and trucks using Route 1 daily, we are just lucky this crash wasn’t much worse,” Police Chief Raymond J. Hayducka said in the statement.
