Three accidents result in five injured

Sparta — Police have completed investigations into three recent motor vehicle accidents. On July 15 at 12:43 p.m., officers responded to a report of a rollover accident on Woodport Road near the Sparta Theater Center. Subsequent investigation showed that Sparta resident Narendra Patel, 68, was traveling east when Ann Warhol, 19, also of Sparta was exiting Center Street at the Theater Center when her vehicle struck the right rear of Patel’s pick-up truck. The impact caused the truck to roll over and come to rest on the driver’s side of the vehicle. Bystanders were able to get Patel, who was wearing his seatbelt, out of the vehicle. Patel suffered abrasions and bruising to his head. He sought medical attention on his own. Warhol’s vehicle sustained heavy front-end damage. She complained of soreness and stiffness but declined medical attention at the scene. Woodport Road was closed and detoured for approximately an hour while the investigation was being investigated. Hayden’s towing removed both vehicles from the scene. Warhol was issued a summons for careless driving. The following afternoon at 4:28 p.m., a 17-year-old male Hopatcong youth escaped serious injury when he lost control of his Jeep for unknown reasons. The vehicle traveled off the road, running over several bushes before it sideswiped a large tree and came to rest in the driveway of a residence. The young man suffered injuries to both of his legs. The Sparta First Aid Squad transported the youth to the Newton Medical Center where he was treated and later released. On July 18 at 2:33 p.m., Sparta Police were dispatched to Glen Road to investigate a report of serious head-on collision with injuries. Officer Joseph Antonello’s investigation revealed that a 17-year-old Sparta male was driving on Glen Road, when he crossed the double yellow lines and struck a ccar operated by 47-year-old Nancy Huff also of Sparta. The youth, Huff and her eight-year-old daughter were injured in the accident. They were transported to Newton Medical Center where they were treated for neck and back injuries and then later released. The 17-year-old told the investigating officer that he lost control of his vehicle when he became distracted by looking down at his iPod. He has been charged with careless driving and failure to maintain a single lane of travel. Both vehicles sustained heavy front-end damage and were removed from the scene by Blessing’s Auto Service. Glen Road was closed for more than an hour while the investigation was conducted and the injured were treated. Sgt. Jeffrey Mase and Officer Richard Smith assisted at the scene. Police made the following statement: These three separate motor vehicle accidents were very serious in nature and although five people were injured, their respective injuries could have been catastrophic if they all had not been wearing seatbelts. Sometimes car accidents are inevitable, you greatly increase your chances for survival and lower the risk of serious injury when you and your passengers are properly restrained in your motor vehicle. Sparta Police urge motorists to drive defensively and always wear your seatbelts.