UPDATE: Drunk Man Caused Three-Car Crash, Police Say
A three car crash at the intersection of E. Ridgewood Ave. and N. Maple sent one woman to the hospital Sunday night. Police have arrested one man for allegedly driving under the influence.
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Updated at 3:59 p.m. Monday.
A Massachusetts man is facing DWI and careless driving charges for causing a three-car accident that sent a grandmother to the hospital Sunday night, according to Ridgewood police.
Police say Marc Mylonakis, 41, of Monton, MA was traveling east on East Ridgewood Avenue in his silver Audi and blew through the red light at the North Maple Avenue intersection, T-boning a Nissan Altima. According to Captain Jacqueline Luthcke, after first striking the Nissan, he struck an SUV waiting at the red light before coming to a halt.
The Altima, struck on the driver's side when traveling north on N. Maple, skidded into the bushes at the old Sealfons building.
The driver, a grandmother, was taken to Valley Hospital by a Village of Ridgewood Ambulance. She was conscious when brought onto the stretcher, police told Patch. Her family members, which included several young grandchildren, were not physically injured in the crash. The occupants of the other vehicles also were not injured, responders said. Witnesses told Patch they observed Mylonakis vomiting shortly after the crash.
The Audi and Nissan both sustained considerable damage in the wreck and all three vehicles were towed from the scene.
Mylonakis has been charged with DWI, careless driving and failure to observe a traffic signal. He was released on his own recognizance and faces a July 26 date in Ridgewood Municipal Court.
Have a question or news tip? Contact editor James Kleimann at James.Kleimann@patch.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox every morning, sign up for our daily newsletter.
In This article
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The Valley Hospital
223 N Van Dien Ave, Ridgewood, NJ -
Ridgewood Police Department
131 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ (Second Floor)
Keys 2012
9:13 pm on Sunday, July 8, 2012
I'll bet on SPEED, 40 miles an hour on Ridgewood Ave from that light heading east is a very very common occurance
James Kleimann
9:44 pm on Sunday, July 8, 2012
Don't know about what role, if any, speed had in this, Jim. I'll update tomorrow.
Rose Boniello
9:45 pm on Sunday, July 8, 2012
You wouldn't be able to print what I'd like to say to this moronic, selfish man who could have killed someone in his pathetic stupor!!!! STAY THE HELL OFF THE ROADS WHEN YOU DRINK!!! NO EXCEPTIONS!!
Jane Harlin
12:10 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
You tell him, Rose!
VKC
12:26 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
It is past time that drunk drivers face a more severe punishment than the slaps on the wrist the currently get. In Denmark you get jail time and not the Hollywood 45 minutes. If you drink while out take a cab home, if you are worried about leaving your precious car then don't drink alcohol/get drunk. If you have to drink in order to enjoy yourself when you go out, you probably have a problem.
No One
6:06 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
I almost made the news last night when someone almost blew a red. Crazy Ridgewood drivers.
JAFO
8:39 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
I don't recall seeing anyone blow the red light at Maple/E. Ridgewood, but I see a ton of cars blow through Franklin/Maple every day. I don't think people going North on Maple realize that you need to stop in the "middle" of the intersection on the red light rather than continue to make your left turn on to Franklin.
Harlan Consider
8:46 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
Just like uncontrolled pedestrian crosswalks, we in the USA have a lot of catching up to do with our European neighbors when it comes to DUI punishments. Limits and penalties over there are far stricter. First time offenders typically lose their license for a year, together with a big fine. You don't see any of the courtroom deals like you see here with reduced charges.
RdgwdGRock
9:31 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
go to the corners of ridgewood ave/pleasant ave & pleasant ave/linwood and you will see drivers blowing thru red lights all the time. whenever a light turns green, I wait an extra second or so before proceeding to make sure someone is not driving like mad max along our roads
jp1
9:54 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
Driving in Ridgewood has been anything goes for a long time, until the police start strict enforcement it will not change.
Paul
10:29 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
Gee what a suprize!!! Here in Ridgewood? Well, I will be darn.
D Taylor
12:49 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
Why hasn't the drunk's name been released? It's a public record. His punishment should start with naming and shaming.
Boyd A. Loving
1:39 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
Only one or two high ranking officers of small town police departments are typically authorized to release the names of victims or those charged with crimes. And generally, those folks aren't working on the weekend. I'm sure James will post the name as soon as it's provided to him by Ridgewood PD's authorized representative.
James Kleimann
4:16 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
Hi D Taylor,
The article has been updated.