Elmwood Park NJ police arrested a man who was allegedly drunk when he drove a vehicle and slammed into a pedestrian on Route 46.

According to law enforcement, the 30-year-old suspect was intoxicated while driving a 2003 Ford Escape on Route 46 in Elmwood Park, New Jersey.

Elmwood Park police received a call about an accident involving a pedestrian at the intersection of Route 46 and Boulevard. When police officers arrived at the scene, they saw the 18-year-old victim lying on the pavement in the left lane on Route 46 east.

The victim, who is from Hackensack NJ, had allegedly been struck by the suspect.

Emergency responders took the victim to a nearby hospital. He was treated for his injuries and later released.

Meanwhile, Elmwood Park police investigated the accident scene and determined that the driver was drunk. The suspect, who resides in Wallington NJ, was placed under arrest. He has been charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) and assault by auto.

If the suspect is convicted on the assault by auto charges, he faces severe criminal penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(c), anyone who drives a vehicle while drunk and causes serious bodily injury to another person can be charged with a third degree felony. A conviction on third degree assault by auto charges can lead to a sentence of 3-5 years in NJ State Prison.

After being arrested and processed, the suspect was taken to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack, New Jersey. He was being held at the jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.

For additional information about this case, read the NJ.com article entitled “Drunk Man Allegedly Hit Pedestrian with Car, Cops Say.”