Drunk Driver Car Causes 3-Vehicle Crash on Rte 202 in Raritan, NJ

Raritan, NJ (August 19, 2026) – On Monday night, August 17, a woman was arrested on drunk driving charges after causing a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 202 and First Avenue in Raritan.

Raritan Borough Police were called around 9:15 p.m. A preliminary investigation found that a 2026 Kia driven by a 36-year-old woman from Westfield rear-ended a 2026 Toyota Corolla, which was then pushed into a 2021 Toyota Camry. 

The Corolla's driver was taken to a hospital for evaluation. The woman was arrested for driving while intoxicated and was also taken to a hospital, along with the two-year-old passenger riding with her. Additional charges are pending.

Police continue looking into the exact sequence of events that led to the collision. 

We are thinking of those hurt as they recover.

How Do Criminal Charges Affect a Civil Claim in Raritan, NJ?

An arrest doesn't automatically decide a civil case in Raritan, but it can carry real weight when one is filed. A criminal charge typically becomes one of the first pieces of evidence an injured person's legal team looks at when building a claim.

Criminal and civil cases move on separate tracks with different standards of proof, so a DUI conviction, for example, isn't required for someone to recover compensation. Still, records from the criminal case, including breathalyzer results, police observations, and body camera footage, can support a civil claim even while the criminal case is still pending.

Car accident victims tend to present injuries such as whiplash, concussions, and fractures, and the presence of criminal charges doesn't change what a person needs to prove medically. A car accident lawyer can help an injured person understand how to use records from the criminal case without waiting for it to conclude, since civil and criminal timelines rarely match up.

New Jersey's modified comparative negligence rule still applies in these cases, and it allows an injured driver or passenger to recover damages as long as they are not found more than half at fault, regardless of what happens in criminal court.

If you have been involved in a crash and are not sure how to proceed after, you can reach out to us. At Metro Law, we work with people involved in these kinds of accidents to guide them through the legal journey and understand their options.  

You can give Metro Law a call at (800) 469-6476. Our team is here to walk you through your next steps.