5 May, 1987 (~estimated)

Arson prober in accident en route to fire

A Mercer County law official en route to a blaze in Princeton Borough Friday became involved in an emergency of his own when his van was struck by an oncoming car in Trenton.

County arson investigator Marc Rossi, 24, was driving a county van in response to a call regarding a fire on Witherspoon Street in the borough. when his van collided with a 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, driven by Sonny S. Haile of Trenton, according to Trenton police Lt. Paul Meyer.

Mr. Haile, 47, attempted to make a left turn from Princeton Avenue onto Vine Street in Trenton at 8:52 p.m. Friday, when his car collided with Mr. Rossi’s van, which was headed in the opposite direction on Princeton Avenue, Lt. Meyer said

No one was injured in the accident, police said.

Mr. Haile refused to take a breathalyzer test administered by police, Lt. Meyer said.

Trenton police said Mr. Haile was arrested and charged him with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, refusing to take a breathalyzer test and driving with an open container of alcohol in the car.

Mr. Haile was transferred to the Trenton lockup where he was released.

Mr. Rossi works for the county Prosecutor’s Office in the Special Investigation Unit. He was not in his office Monday.

When Mr. Rossi failed to respond to the fire on Friday, another arson specialist responded to the scene, according to Princeton Fire Chief Kenneth Rendell III.