A 21-year-old Old Bridge man was charged with driving under the influence after crashing his car into a bridge and injuring three passengers early Saturday, police said.

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

A 21-year-old Old Bridge man was charged with driving under the influence after crashing his car into a bridge and injuring three passengers early Saturday, police said.

Officers on patrol came across the crash around 12:50 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, on East Ward Street near Peddie Bridge, the Hightstown Police Department said in a release.

Police said a 2009 Infiniti G37 had become pinned between the bridge’s guardrail and the pedestrian walkway. The driver’s side was suspended in the air, leaning on the passenger side, trapping a front-seat passenger who required extrication.

“The driver and three passengers sustained varying degrees of injury,” police said. The driver suffered minor hand lacerations, while the front-seat passenger had multiple facial injuries, according to the release. A rear-seat passenger had an upper arm injury, and another passenger, who was unrestrained, was catapulted from the back to the front of the vehicle, striking the dashboard and windshield, resulting in unspecified head trauma.

The driver and one passenger refused medical treatment, police said. The two other passengers were taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, where their conditions remain unknown.

Police arrested the 21-year-old driver on scene for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Breath samples later confirmed his blood alcohol content was 0.10%, according to the report.

“Additionally, within the vehicle were open containers of alcoholic beverages and various cannabis products,” police said.

The driver was charged with Assault by Auto while intoxicated in a School Zone, Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Careless Driving, Failure to Maintain Lane, Open Containers of an Intoxicant within a Motor Vehicle, Consumption of an Intoxicant within a Motor Vehicle, and Failure to Exhibit Credentials, police said.

He was released to his parents under John’s Law, with court action pending.

Police thanked emergency responders from Hightstown Fire Department Station 41, East Windsor Fire Department Station 42, Robbinsville Fire and First Aid Station 40, and Capital Health units for their assistance at the scene.

The department also issued a reminder with MADD and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the dangers of impaired driving.

“This incident serves as a stark reminder of the hazards associated with impaired driving and the tragic outcomes of such,” police said. “The Hightstown Police Department also wishes those injured a speedy recovery, as we are thankful that there was not a more deleterious outcome.”