New jersey dept. Of transportation director drove drunk and crashed with children in car — Crime scene investigation - File Photo.

TRENTON, NJ – If you live in New Jersey, you’re used to two sets of rules, one for the political elites and one for everyone else.

In a recently released bodycam video, Megan Fackler, the Director of Statewide Planning for the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJ DOT), was arrested on October 5, 2024, and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) following a collision in Ewing Township. The incident, which involved her three young daughters in the vehicle, has sparked outrage and raised questions about accountability among state officials.

According to Ewing police reports, Fackler’s SUV struck a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Grand and Summit Avenues around 7:30 p.m. Body-worn camera footage, obtained by Transparency Bodycam, captured the aftermath, showing Fackler seated in her vehicle with empty wine bottles visible in the back. When questioned, Fackler, 39, stated she was driving her children home from lacrosse practice but appeared disoriented, struggling to recall her direction of travel. She disclosed her position at NJ DOT, saying, “I work for the DOT, I know how this works,” before complying with a sobriety test.

Fackler failed the field sobriety test, unable to follow instructions during a walk-and-turn exercise. A subsequent blood alcohol test revealed a level of 0.371%, over four times New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08%. She faces charges of DUI, endangering the welfare of children, reckless driving, careless driving, driving an unregistered vehicle, and failure to possess an insurance card. Under John’s Law, her vehicle was impounded. Her daughters, ages 8, 7, and 4, were unharmed and released to the custody of Fackler’s brother, who took them to a hospital for evaluation.

This marks Fackler’s second DUI arrest, following a prior incident in Metuchen on March 8, 2024.

Social media posts on X have expressed dismay, with one user stating, “What is going on with our NJ employees driving drunk with kids in the car?”

Others criticized the state’s hiring practices, questioning how someone with a previous DUI held a high-ranking position.

The crash follows another high-profile case in March 2025, when Lumberton Mayor Gina LaPlaca was charged with DUI while driving with her toddler.

NJ DOT issued a statement acknowledging the incident but declined to comment on Fackler’s employment status, citing personnel matters. Governor Phil Murphy’s office has not publicly addressed the arrest, though calls for stricter oversight of state officials are growing. Fackler was released pending a court appearance, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The incident underscores broader concerns about road safety in New Jersey, where DUI-related crashes continue to pose a significant threat. In 2024, the state reported over 12,000 DUI arrests, with advocates urging harsher penalties and prevention measures.

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