Woman charged after hitting Washington Twp. police car

WASHINGTON TWP – . An 86-year-old woman was charged with careless driving after she backed into a police car.

At 5:11 p.m. on Wednesday, Cpl. Kirk Griffin responded to the area of Coleman Road and East Mill Road after police got a report about an erratic driver.

The report said the driver was in a silver Honda Odyssey minivan, which Griffin located on East Mill Road heading west, police said.

Griffin observed the vehicle traveling well under the posted speed limit along with the driver being unable to stay in the lane of travel, police said.

Griffin stopped the minivan on West Mill Road where the driver, Catherine Alwine, 86, of Spring Valley, Pa., shifted the vehicle into reverse and proceeded to back into Griffin’s patrol vehicle causing minor damage, police said.

After speaking with Alwine, Griffin determined that she was suffering from an unknown medical condition so the Long Valley First Aid Squad was called to the scene.

The Long Valley First Aid Squad assessed Alwine and later transported her to Hackettstown Regional Medical Center for care and evaluation. Alwine was issued a motor vehicle complaint for careless driving.

No injuries resulted from the motor vehicle crash.