Police and Fire, Regional Interest

Prosecutor: Driver Saved from Fatal Overdose at DWI Checkpoint

A female driver was saved from overdosing by law enforcement and emergency services personnel during a DWI checkpoint last Friday night, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago and Monmouth County DWI Task Force Coordinator and Allenhurst Police Chief Michael Schneider jointly announced on Friday.

“I think this incident shows just how important these checkpoints are,” Schneider said. “It’s extremely likely that pulling into this checkpoint saved this woman’s life. We have an extremely successful program in Monmouth County, and I think this puts an exclamation point on just how important these checkpoints are in keeping our roads safe.”

The adult driver pulled into the checkpoint on Friday night, May 31, in the Asbury Park Circle. She was speaking with a Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department officer when she suddenly became disoriented. She then became unconscious behind the wheel of her vehicle, which was still in gear. Additional officers came over to assist and were able to get the vehicle into park and pull the unconscious driver from inside the car.

Officers administered three separate Narcan deployments before the female eventually started to show signs of regaining consciousness. The driver was transported by the Wanamassa First Aid Squad to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where she was treated and released.

The checkpoint was shut down for approximately 30 minutes while officers dealt with the medical emergency.

Summonses for the driver are pending an ongoing investigation.

The checkpoint screened 686 drivers that evening, with nine summonses issued and one arrest made.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office