Driver Charged After Hitting Police Car In New Jersey
ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. (AP) -- Two northern New Jersey police officers on their way to oversee a drunken driving checkpoint escaped serious injury when their cruiser was rear-ended early Sunday by an allegedly intoxicated New York motorist.
Elmwood Park police say 29-year-old Jozef Kopinec of Mahopac was charged with drunken driving, eluding and two counts of assault by auto following the 2:30 a.m. crash on Route 46 East. Kopinec allegedly drove off after hitting the cruiser, but was captured a short time later.
Elmwood Park Chief Don Ingrasselino and Lt. Frank Thorpe were taken to Hackensack Regional Medical Center, where they were treated and later released.
Kopinec was released after posting $10,000 bail, and a phone number for him could not be located Sunday evening. It wasn't known if he had retained a lawyer.
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