Town Topics
24 June 1981

3 Cars Collide on 206

Griggstown Driver Charged. A 21-year-old Griggstown resident, Ralph Larsen of Leiv Eriksson Avenue, has been charged with drunken driving and improper passing, following a three-car collision late Thursday night on Route 206 near Edgerstoune Road.

According to the police investigation by Ptl. Mark Emann, the Larsen car made an improper pass by crossing a double yellow line. It struck another car coming in the opposite direction driven by Catherine S. Chen, 54, of Berkeley Heights.

A third car driven by Michael D. Curtis, 21, 294 Western Way, struck the rear of the Chen car when it was unable to avoid a collision. He escaped injury.

Ms. Chen was trapped inside her car and had to be extricated by members of the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad. She was admitted to Princeton Medical Center in serious condition with extensive injuries. Her 1981 Citation was a total loss.

Mr. Larsen was placed in an ambulance and treated at the medical center for a laceration of the chin.

Ptl. Mark Emann, arriving at the scene a few minutes before midnight, found Mr. Larsen sitting on the grass on the side of the road about 15 feet from his car. As he approached to render first aid, Ptl. Emann noted in his report, he detected a strong odor of alcohol on Mr. Larsen’s breath.

During the incident, Mr. Larsen, Ptl. added, became abusive and violent inside the ambulance. “At the hospital he was boisterous, antagonistic and indifferent toward me and the hospital staff.”

Mr. Larsen, who consented to having a blood sample taken at the hospital, was later released in his own recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in Township court July 28.