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Dover Man Charged with Assault by Auto in Connection with Rockaway Crash

Rockaway Borough

A 40-year-old man accused driving drunk when he rolled over his vehicle injuring his passengers Monday night has been charged with assault by auto, police announced today.

Police were called to West Main Street on a reported rollover accident with injuries at approximately 9:56 Monday night.

Upon arrival, police found the driver of the vehicle trapped, a female passenger with a head injury in the rear seat and another female on the sidewalk covered with blood.

The front seat passenger and the rear passenger were taken to St. Clare's in Denville for treatment.

As the driver, James Thomas, 40, of Dover, was removed from the vehicle an odor of alcoholic beverage was detected. He was taken to Morristown Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Police learned from eyewitness accounts that the vehicle was driving erratically on West Main Street before crashing, flipping over.

Thomas was arrested and charged with DWI, assault by auto and multiple motor vehicle charges.

The front seat passenger, Monica Larsen (Kohl),45, of Budd Lake was charged with failing to wear a seatbelt.

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