Newton NJ police recently arrested a local man accused of being intoxicated and driving his car on a sidewalk.

Three Newton patrol officers were dispatched to Pine Street in Newton NJ after receiving a report of a car accident. When the officers got to the scene, they found the suspect’s vehicle, an Acura TL, stopped next to a utility pole.

The officers conducted an investigation and determined that the 21-year-old suspect was under the influence of alcohol when he lost control of his vehicle and veered off the road. According to officials, the suspect drove on the sidewalk for approximately 100 feet, sideswiped a tree, and slammed into a street sign. The vehicle eventually came to a rest in front of the utility pole.

Authorities said that the car accident occurred during the early morning hours.

While police investigated the accident, they called for medical assistance because the suspect sustained head and neck injuries in the crash. The suspect was taken to Newton Medical Center in order to receive medical treatment for his injuries.

The suspect was eventually charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), reckless driving, and driving without insurance.

If the suspect is ultimately convicted on the drunk driving charges, he could face significant penalties. Even if the suspect has no prior DWI convictions on his record, he would be subject to penalties that include up to 30 days in jail and suspension of his driver’s license for a period of 3 months.

The suspect will be required to appear in Newton Municipal Court at a later date in order to address the charges against him.

The suspect’s vehicle sustained significant damage in the crash and needed to be towed from the accident scene.

For further information about this case, read the NJ.com article entitled “Newton Man Cited for DWI After Driving on Sidewalk, Cops Say.”