WESTFIELD, NJ – A Westfield man who flipped his car into a house while drinking and driving is facing more charges today.
Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro has announced that the 22-year old Westfield man, who was recently arrested for Driving While Intoxicated following a crash in which the vehicle he was operating flipped over after striking a house, has been additionally charged with three criminal counts of Assault by Auto.
“Ariel Y. Guzman was arrested on Saturday, June 25, immediately following the 9:42 PM crash, which occurred at the intersection of W. North Avenue and Crossway Place,” Chief Battiloro said. “Police arrived at the scene to find two vehicles very heavily damaged – one disabled at the intersection, and the vehicle operated by Guzman nearby, which was overturned and up against a house on the 400 block of Edgewood Avenue.”
Guzman was placed under arrest at the scene and accompanied by arresting officers to University Hospital in Newark where he was treated for injuries he sustained as a result of the crash.
In addition to Driving While Intoxicated, Guzman was charged with numerous other traffic violations, which included reckless driving, failure to observe a traffic control device, failure to keep right, improper driving on a sidewalk, having open containers of an alcoholic beverage in his vehicle, and not having liability insurance on the vehicle he was operating.
Three other people in the vehicle struck by Guzman’s vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of this crash and were transported to Overlook Medical Center in Summit.
Following a review of this incident by the Westfield Police Department’s Detective Bureau, Guzman was additionally charged with three (3) criminal counts of Assault by Auto, 2C:12-1C(2) – one charge for each person injured in the crash. These additional charges, which are all crimes of the fourth degree, were approved by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.
“The Westfield Police Department shall demonstrate zero tolerance for persons who drive while intoxicated and recklessly endanger the lives of others,” stated Chief Battiloro.