N.J. Police Officer Seriously Injured when Drunk Driver Slams into Car

Aug. 29, 2022

Jefferson Township Police Officer Tyler LaMantia was sitting in his marked vehicle and helping investigate a previous crash when his parked cruiser was struck from behind by another vehicle.

By Anthony G. Attrino

Source nj.com

A Jefferson Township, NJ, police officer was seriously injured when a drunken driver crashed into the rear of his parked cruiser early Sunday.

A drunken driver slammed into a Jefferson Township police car stopped on Route 15 during the investigation of an earlier crash early Sunday, seriously injuring the officer inside the cruiser, authorities said.

Officer Tyler LaMantia was sitting in his marked vehicle about 3:06 a.m. on Route 15 North when his car was struck from behind by another vehicle, according to police.

LaMantia had been helping other officers investigate an earlier crash in the area of Route 15 and Berkshire Valley Road, police said in a statement. LaMantia was taken to Morristown Medical Center, where he remained Sunday afternoon. His condition was not immediately available on Monday.

The driver, David Prontnicki, 45, of Budd Lake, was arrested at the scene, according to police.

In addition to drunken driving and assault, court records show Prontnicki was charged with speeding, failure to change lanes for an emergency vehicle, reckless driving and other traffic violations.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Officer Nolan Ryan or Det. Sgt. James Stokes at 973-697-1300.

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