3 Accidents in Montgomery: Dump Truck Topples Rt 518 Utility Pole; 3-Car Crash on Rt 610; and a DUI

By Barbara A. Preston | June 8, 2022

Montgomery Township police reported three motor vehicle accidents the first week of June, including a downed utility pole on Route 518 in Skillman; a three-car accident on Route 601 allegedly cased by distracted driving; and an arrest for driving while intoxicated, also on Route 518.

Dump Truck Topples Utility Pole on Route 518 in Skillman

A dump truck struck wires causing a utility pole to fall onto Route 518 in Skillman on Tuesday at 3 pm, closing the county road for hours. No one was injured.

Montgomery Township police said they determined the dump truck was operated by Luis Jauregui, 60, of Astoria, NY. Montgomery EMS evaluated Jauregui who refused further medical treatment.

Police conducted an on scene investigation and determined that Jauregui failed to close the overhead box arm on the top portion of the dump truck prior to leaving the Bloomberg News campus at Business Park Drive. As Jauregui was making a right turn onto Route 518 east, the truck's box arm came into contact with the power lines causing the power lines to separate from a utility pole and the utility pole to fall onto the highway. Somerset County Roads Department responded to assist with the road closure.

Montgomery police, Montgomery Fire Station 46, Rocky Hill Fire Department, and Montgomery EMS responded to the intersection of Route 518 and Business Park Drive for the accident. Public Service Electric & Gas responded to repair the lines and install a new utility pole.

Jauregui was issued a summons for careless driving and is scheduled to appear in Montgomery Municipal Court.

Belle Mead Driver Charged with Distracted Driving after 3-Car Accident

Montgomery police responded to the area of Route 601 near the railroad crossing closest to Grandview Road for a three-car accident on June 2 at 3:55 pm. Montgomery police conducted an on scene investigation and determined there were no injuries. The investigation concluded that Rajesh Datla of Belle Mead was distracted while he was driving his 2022 Tesla, police said. "His distraction caused his vehicle to crash into two other vehicles," according to police.

One vehicle was a 2020 Chevy Equinox driven by Hailey Vaga, of Toms River and the other vehicle was a 2021 Nissan Altima driven by Alan Incao, of Hillsborough. Datla was issued a summons for careless driving and is scheduled to appear in Montgomery Municipal Court.

New Brunswick Man Arrested for DUI on Route 518 in Montgomery Township

Montgomery Police Officer Michael Contreras stopped a vehicle driven by Santos Juarez, 36, of New Brunswick on Route 518 for a motor vehicle violation. on June 4 at 1:28 am.

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During the course of the stop, Officer Contreras determined that Juarez had consumed alcoholic beverages prior to operating the vehicle, according to a press release from Montgomery police. Juarez failed roadside sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for Driving While Intoxicated.

Juarez was transported to Montgomery Township Police Department for processing. Juarez was charged with DWI, Improper Use of High Beams, Reckless Driving, Careless Driving, Driving Without a License, Having an Open Container of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle and Consumption of an Alcoholic Beverage while Driving. Juarez was released and is scheduled to appear in Montgomery Twp. Municipal Court.