New Jersey

Drunken Driver Hits 36 Cars in Multi-Block Tear Through NJ: Police

He caused thousands of dollars in damage, police say

An alleged drunken driver smashed into 36 vehicles on a multi-block tear through New Jersey Wednesday, causing thousands of dollars in damage, before cops found him disoriented on the street he ripped apart, authorities say. 

The driver, 22-year-old Miguel Aleman of Union City, was charged with DWI, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and other offenses in the 1:30 a.m. parked car-smash spree on Bloomfield Street in Hoboken. 

Cops say they got multiple 911 calls about a driver hitting parked cars while traveling north on Bloomfield, and responding officers found the 2010 white Honda mentioned in the calls on that street. The vehicle had heavy damage; the passenger side windshield was broken and all air bags had been deployed. 

Police say Aleman seemed out of it and couldn't balance while standing in the street; they also say they smelled a strong odor of alcohol on him. Officials say it appeared he barreled along seven blocks, from First to Eighth on Bloomfield, before he as stopped. 

Aleman had two passengers in his vehicle when cops arrived; all three of them were taken to a hospital for evaluation. The two passengers remained hospitalized later Wednesday in unknown condition. No one else was hurt.

Aleman, who had been unable to complete a sobriety test at the crash scene, provided blood and urine samples at the hospital before he was treated and released. He then returned to police headquarters to finish getting processed and was released to another person.

It wasn't immediately clear if Aleman had an attorney.

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