Police want you to know; “If you have had too many alcohol beverages to drink during this holiday weekend, we urge you to make alternate arrangements instead of driving yourself. These type of incidents only put many others at risk.”
July 4, 2020 update at 1:30 pm
SEE THIS MORNING’S BREAKING NEWS REPORT HERE: BREAKING: Car Under Water At Mercer County Park Boathouse
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)—At 11:19 pm West Windsor Police and Mercer County Rangers were detailed to 1 South Post Road at the Mercer County Boat Ramp next to the Mercer County Boathouse for a vehicle submerged in Lake Mercer. Patrol Units initially met with the operator of the vehicle, identified at Lauren K. Engel of Dumont, NJ who had escaped from her underwater 2010 Nissan Rogue. The West Windsor Division of Fire and Emergency Services, West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company #1, Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Company, Hightstown Dive Team, and Grover’s Mill Towing were detailed to the scene to search and locate the vehicle and determine if any others were in the vehicle.
It was determined the Engel sustained a minor injury and no other persons had been inside of the sunken Rogue. Engel was evaluated by members of the West Windsor Emergency Services and declined transport to a hospital.
The initial investigation revealed that Engel had been attempting to exit the Mercer County Park during a heavy rainstorm possibly up to (2) hours earlier. The delay was due to Engel having no means to contact the WWPD or anyone else at that time of night during a storm and given her secluded location. Ptl. Caulfield, the Lead Investigator, determined Engel to be Driving While Intoxicated at the scene. Engle was transported to the WWPD for processing. Grover’s Mill Towing retrieved the underwater Nissan which sustained sever water damage. The retrieving of the submerged vehicle took over (2) hours.
Traffic Officer Brown is the Lead Investigator in this collision while Ptl. Caulfield is the Lead Investigator into the DWI portion of the collaborative investigation. The driver was issued summonses for DWI, Reckless Driving, Carless Driving by Ptl. Caulfield, and released pending a future date at the West Windsor Township Municipal Court.
None of the first responders of the owner-operators of the Grover’s Mill Towing were injured during the search for additional persons or retrieval of the Rogue.
The incident is still under investigation by the West Windsor Township Police Traffic Division. If you have any information of substance, please contact Traffic Officer Brown at [email protected] or Traffic Sgt. Bal at [email protected]
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Full press release from West Windsor Police here: http://local.nixle.com/alert/8095604/