23-Year-Old Woman Crashes Into a Fire Hydrant Before DWI Arrest

Around 1:52 AM on February 7, 2025, Officer Ronald Kibitlewski with the Hoboken Police Department observed the driver of a 2023 Subaru drive past a construction roadblock, sideswipe a parked construction vehicle, and strike a fire hydrant in front of 460 Newark Street. He immediately instructed the driver to stop the vehicle and asked for her information. The driver would eventually be identified as 23-year-old Basma, and Officer Kibitlewski observed indicators of impairment as he was speaking with her.

Based on his suspicion of impairment, Officer Cynthia Rivera was called on scene to administer field sobriety exercises. Officer Rivera started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Basma did not touch heel-to-toe on each step while taking an incorrect number of steps. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and Basma failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and put her foot down before the test was complete.

Based on the motor vehicle accident, her indicators of impairment, and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, Basma was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. After she was placed under arrest, the vehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold according to John’s Law. Basma was transported to the Port Authority Police Department station in Weehawken for further processing while her passenger was taken to the hospital for further evaluation.

At the station, Basma was read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators and agreed to submit breath samples. Her breath test results indicated a BAC level of 0.18%, which is more than double the legal limit of 0.08%. Basma was eventually released pending her court appearance and issued the following citations: Operating under the influence, reckless driving

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