By: Richard L. Smith
A Pompton Lakes man is facing a list of serious charges after allegedly crashing his vehicle in Wayne while intoxicated, attempting to flee the scene, and abandoning a young child in the car, according to information released by the Wayne Township Police Department.
The incident unfolded on the afternoon of April 24, around 2:51 p.m., when officers were dispatched to the area of Terhune Drive and Alder Avenue following reports that a vehicle had veered off the road and struck a mailbox.
Multiple witnesses told police the driver appeared impaired, tried to flee, and had a child in the front passenger seat, without a child safety seat.
The driver reportedly made a brief stop near Noreen Lane, where he crawled under his vehicle in an attempt to dislodge an object stuck underneath.
During this moment, alert bystanders stepped in and safely removed the child from the car.
The driver then fled the scene alone, leaving the child behind.
Wayne Police quickly arrived, secured the crash scene, and ensured the child was safe. Officers also began searching for the vehicle and soon learned of a second crash just over the town border in Oakland.
Responding officers located the suspect and his vehicle at that scene.
Police say the driver, identified as 39-year-old Seyon Rodriguez, appeared intoxicated and failed field sobriety tests. He was arrested and transported to Wayne Police Headquarters.
Rodriguez faces multiple charges, including Aggravated Assault, Assault by Auto, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Driving Under the Influence (including with a minor), Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Breath Test, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident. Additional charges include Failure to Use a Child Safety Seat, Careless Driving, and Reckless Driving.
He was charged on a warrant and transported to the Passaic County Jail Intake Hub pending a detention hearing. The child was safely reunited with a family member.