A moving roadside memorial honoring a New Jersey state trooper killed during a traffic stop has been vandalized by a drunk driver, authorities say.
Police said David Newfield, 38, was arrested after his car ran off the road and into a memorial erected for Officer Thomas Hanratty, who was killed when hit by a speeding car in the same location on April 2, 1992.
“The accident has caused significant damage to the Officer Hanratty Memorial, which is a solemn reminder of the dangers officers face every day while serving and protecting the public.” The ministry said on Facebook:.
“This case highlights the importance of safe and drink-free driving on our roads.”
According to state police, Newfield was driving on Interstate 78 in Union County around 2 p.m. on August 31 when his vehicle went off the road and crashed into the monument.
Members of the National Guard and Summit Fire Department responded to the scene and transported Newfield to a nearby hospital, where he was charged with DUI and drug possession.
Newfield suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Hanratty, 24, had been with the New Jersey State Police for just over three years at the time of the killing. Officer Down Memorial Page.
The young officer was conducting a routine traffic stop when he was hit as he was returning to his car.
