A man from Belmar is facing criminal charges after allegedly causing a car accident, according to local police. Authorities in New Jersey arrested the 29-year-old man after he apparently crashed his car on the morning of June 12. He now faces DUI charges as well as other charges pertaining to the crash. He was taken to a county jail, but no trial date has been set.
According to the report, around 8:30 a.m. the man was driving his SUV westbound when he allegedly ran a red light. His vehicle hit the light stanchion before overturning. His vehicle then struck a minivan driven by a 45-year-old man. Thankfully the other driver was not hurt.
The details of his arrest were not included in the report, but he stands charged of driving under the influence as well as possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana. This suggests police believe the man was on drugs rather than drunk behind the wheel. He is also charged with reckless driving and failure to maintain lanes.
DUI charges require considerable evidence in order for a conviction to be secured in criminal court. New Jersey prosecutors will have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the man was high when the accident occurred in order for the court to rule against the accused man. However, he will be represented by a criminal defense attorney that will examine any and all such proof introduced by prosecutors to assess whether it is admissible and/or relevant to the case. This is a crucial part of building a compelling defense against these serious charges.