Police: Drunk driver causes Christmas blackout

A drunken driver who was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident early Christmas morning escaped injury but the crash he caused closed Route 94 for more than 11 hours and knocked out power to homes in the area of Saddle Ridge and West Mountain Roads.

At 1:30 am, multiple 911 calls sent Sparta Police to Rte. 94 approximately one-tenth of a mile north of the Sussex County Technical School.

Police found a utility pole with a power transformer attached had been sheared at its base and was blocking both lanes of Rte. 94.

The initial investigation conducted by Officer Frank Schomp has determined that a 2006 Porsche Cayenne operated by a 67-year-old male Carroll T. Quinn from Wantage was traveling north when he lost control of his vehicle, swerved right, left the roadway and struck the utility pole.

When asked, Quinn told the officer that he was “texting” when he lost control of his car.

Schomp also determined that Quinn had consumed alcoholic beverages and was arrested for DWI a short time later.

He was transported to police headquarters for processing and breath testing.

Quinn was later charged with; DWI in a school zone, refusal to submit to breath testing, reckless driving, failure to maintain a single lane of travel and texting while driving. He was released later to a sober adult.

Assisting at the scene were; Corporals David Pridham, Mark Mastandrea and the New Jersey State Department of Transportation Traffic Diversion Team.