N.J. Police Officer Injured in Head-On Crash with Accused Drunken Driver

July 30, 2024

A Butler police officer was stationed to catch speeders when he spotted an allegedly intoxicated driver in an SUV that then veered into an opposing lane and struck the officer's cruiser head-on.

By Nicolas Fernandes

Source nj.com

66a8e3d4f70aad596b72378a Butler Police Dept

An intoxicated driver allegedly struck a police car as an officer was attempting to catch speeders in Morris County on Friday, officials said.

Butler Police patrolman Justin Brunda was stationed on Bartholdi Avenue on Friday when he noticed an oncoming Ford Explorer that was traveling at an excessive speed, borough police said in a news release. The SUV then veered into the opposing lane and struck Brunda’s patrol car head-on, authorities said.

Brunda was treated for non-life threatening injuries at the hospital and has since been released, while a passenger in the SUV is being treated for serious injuries, police said.

The driver, Charles Dampman, was arrested on the scene. He has been charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault causing bodily injury, aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, assault by auto, assault by auto causing serious bodily injury and endangering another person, officials said.

He also received several motor vehicle summonses including a DWI, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane.

Dampman is being held at Morris County Jail pending court proceedings.

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