Drunken Chatham Woman Hits Tree, Flees Scene, Cops Say

Chatham Borough Police arrested a resident Thursday who allegedly left the scene of an accident on Ogden Street.

Kevin O'Shea of the Chatham Borough Police Department said Karen Roche, 63, of Chatham Borough was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, careless driving, having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle, no liability insurance, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to report an accident.

O'Shea said patrols responded to Ogden Street at 5:56 p.m. Thursday on reports that a car had run into a tree.

When police arrived, O'Shea said, they found evidence of an accident but no vehicle on the scene. Police interviewed witnesses, who gave a description of the car that hit the tree and of the driver. 

Patrolman Roy George found a vehicle and driver parked at the Cottage Deli on South Passaic Avenue which matched the description given by witnesses. The car had heavy damage to the front end, O'Shea said, and the driver, identified as Roche, showed signs of intoxication.

After an investigation at the scene, Roche was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated. O'Shea said she was brought to headquarters for processing.

Roche was released to a family member pending further court action, O'Shea said.