Around 7:44 PM on October 5, 2024, officers with the Ewing Township Police Department were dispatched to a report of a motor vehicle accident on Grand Avenue near the intersection with Summit Avenue. It would later be determined that a southbound 2023 Freightliner M2 was struck by a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. This crash occurred as the driver of the Chevy was headed westbound on Summit Avenue and she turned northbound onto Grand Avenue. The driver struck the southbound truck as she drifted into oncoming traffic, and her vehicle sustained heavy front-end damages while the rear axle of the truck was also damaged.
Officer Hussein Mustafa first arrived on scene, and he made contact with the woman who was driving the Chevy as well as her 3 daughters. The woman was identified as Megan Fackler. Her 3 daughters were 8, 7, and 4 years of age. Officer Phillip Culotta arrived on scene shortly afterwards and asked Megan to explain what happened. Megan told the officer that she was headed over to her brother’s house along with her 3 daughters. Megan seemed incoherent and Officer Culotta suspected that Megan was impaired. She was evaluated by first responders, but ultimately declined transport to the hospital.
After Megan was evaluated by first responders, she was asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises. She initially hesitated to exit the vehicle, but eventually agreed to attempt the field sobriety exercises. Officer Culotta started with the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Megan did not touch heel-to-toe on each step, failed to count aloud, and turned improperly. The last exercise was the One Leg Stand Test. During the One Leg Stand test, Megan was unable to raise her foot for more than a few seconds without losing her balance.
Based on her motor vehicle crash, the open wine bottles inside the vehicle, and her inability to complete the field sobriety exercises, Officer Culotta placed Megan under arrest for driving under the influence. Megan’s 3 children were released to her brother, and he followed the ambulance rig as they were taken to the hospital. Her vehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold according to John’s Law. Officer Culotta transported Megan to the Ewing Township Police Department for further processing.
The Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators was read to Megan at the station, and she agreed to submit breath samples. Officer Lookner administered the Alcotest machine. Megan’s Alcotest results indicated a BAC level of 0.371%, which was almost 5 times the legal limit of 0.08%. After she was cleared for incarceration, Megan was later lodged at the Mercer County Correctional Center.
Officer Culotta issued Megan the following citations:
-Operating under the influence
-Reckless driving
-Careless driving
-Driving an unregistered motor vehicle
-Failure to possess driver insurance card
She was also criminally charged by Officer Culotta with 3 counts of endangering the welfare of a child under 2C:24-4A(2). Court records indicate that Megan had previously been arrested for DWI in Metuchen, New Jersey on March 8, 2024.
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