Sparta crash by DWI driver killed Robert Hunter III 120815 Photo courtesy of NJ.com

SPARTA, NEW JERSEY — 12/10/2015 — Sparta Police report that on 12-08-2015 at approximately 11:06 PM, Cpl. Adam Carbery was travelling southbound on Route 15 when he observed a white 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee travelling the wrong way northbound in his lane of travel.

After taking evasive action and avoiding a head-on collision with this vehicle, Cpl. Carbery turned around into the northbound lanes in order to pursue this vehicle and attempt to stop it.

Sparta Township patrol unit

Ernest I Reigstad, Chief of Police Sparta Township NJ

The white Jeep continued northbound in the southbound lanes and before any Sparta patrol was able to catch up to the vehicle, it struck a 1998 Toyota Corolla head-on.

The operator of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, identified as 50-year-old Teresa Verbout from Sparta, suffered serious injuries to her lower extremities. She was flown to Morristown Medical Center. The driver of the Toyota Corolla, 22-year-old Robert J. Hunter 3rd from Flanders, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Verbout has been charged criminally with Vehicular Homicide, a second-degree crime. She has also been charged with DWI. The investigation is still ongoing.

The Sparta Police were assisted by NJ State Police, the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Medical Examiner’s Office.