The New Jersey State Police said a 45-year-old man who allegedly caused a car accident on Route 206 in Frankford on Dec. 24 may have been under the influence of drugs when the crash occurred. Depending on toxicology test results, he may face charges in the incident.

Authorities said the man was driving his 2014 Kia on Route 206 during a heavy rain storm around 10:50 a.m. when he crossed the centerline and crashed into a 2013 Ford F-150 pickup truck head-on. The driver of the Ford, a 32-year-old Sandyston man, was taken to Morristown Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition. The Kia driver was taken to the same hospital with serious injuries.

According to police, a substance that could be cocaine was found in the Kia. It was sent to a lab for testing. A toxicology sample was also taken from the Kia driver and sent to a lab for testing. If test results are positive, he could be charged with vehicular assault.

Toxicology test results could be very important for anyone who suffers a serious injury in a head-on collision similar to this one. If the test results show that the other driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the car accident, they could be used as a basis for a civil lawsuit against that driver. An attorney with a background in personal injury cases could help the injured party prepare a lawsuit that seeks monetary compensation for damages that include pain and suffering, medical expenses, wages lost while recovering and property losses.

Source: The Sparta Independent, “Christmas Eve accident injures two,” Nathan Mayberg, Dec. 26, 2014

Source: New Jersey Herald, “Charges pending in Frankford crash”, December 26, 2014