HACKETTSTOWN, NJ – A 25-year-old man was arrested on multiple charges, including driving while intoxicated, after being involved in a hit-and-run crash on Wednesday, October 1, around 5:39 p.m.
Police received a report of a crash at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Route 46. Upon investigation, officers learned that a 2022 Ford pickup truck struck another vehicle and fled the scene.
Shortly after, the Warren County Dispatch Center received a report of an erratic black Ford pickup truck traveling in the area of Washington Street. A caller provided details about the vehicle, including a registration number that matched the one from the earlier incident.
A passenger in the struck vehicle sustained an injury but declined medical attention. Officers located the suspect vehicle entering River’s Edge Gardens Apartments on Mountain Avenue.
The driver was identified as Eleazar J. Franco-Diaz of Hackettstown. Officers reported detecting the odor of alcohol in the vehicle and noted an open can of Michelob Ultra in the center console.
Franco-Diaz was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury, failure to report an accident, and reckless driving. He was released to a family member pending a court appearance.