18-Year-Old Arrested for DWI After Crashing her Audi Into a Ditch

On April 17, 2024 around 11:18 PM, Patrolman George Emporellis with the Randolph Township Police Department were dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving a 2020 Audi Q5 that had struck a pole on Park Avenue. He arrived on scene and noticed that the Audi had driven into a ditch after striking a pole. The airbags had deployed and the sole occupant of the vehicle was still inside. He made contact with the driver, who was identified as 18-year-old Juliana Geller. Sergeant McGaughran and Patrolmen Carbonaro, Grosso, and Del Russo also arrived on scene to assist shortly afterwards.

Juliana told Patrolman Emporellis that she was distracted by looking at Instagram on her phone before crashing into the pole. As he was speaking with Juliana, he detected the odor of alcohol and noticed other signs of impairment. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Juliana was asked to perform field sobriety exercises.

Patrolman Emporellis started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Patrolman Emporellis observed the lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. He did not observe vertical nystagmus. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Juliana did not touch heel-to-toe on each step and turned improperly. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and Juliana displayed a lack of balance while putting her foot down before the test was complete.

Based on the motor vehicle accident, the odor of alcohol, the open containers in her vehicle, and her inability to adequately perform the field sobriety exercises, Juliana was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated. Officers found open containers inside the vehicle. Patrolman Emporellis rode in the ambulance rig as Juliana was transported to Morristown Medical Center for further evaluation. Juliana consented to a blood draw at 1:14 AM the following day and the blood draw was administered at approximately 1:48 AM. After she was cleared by the hospital staff, Juliana was later released to her mother pending her court appearance in the Randolph Township Municipal Court.

Her blood test results would later indicate a BAC level of 0.063% and the presence of THC-COOH (a marijuana metabolite). However, the blood draw was administered approximately 2 hours after the crash and Juliana had also indicated to the officer that she had consumed 2 or 3 alcoholic beverages earlier that day. Patrolman Emporellis issued her the following summonses: Operating under the influence, operating under the influence underage, reckless driving, careless driving, traffic on marked lanes, use of hand-held wireless telephones, and open container

Court records indicate that on August 14, 2024, Juliana was found guilty of operating under the influence underage, use of hand-held wireless telephones, and open container. Her license was revoked for 90 days, she had to spend 12 hours at an intoxicated river resource center and perform 20 days of community service, and she had to pay a total of $913 in fines. The other 3 citations were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Court records also indicate that on January 5, 2024, Juliana had previously been ticketed for speeding in Branchburg, New Jersey.

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