Drunk Girl Causes a Horrific Crash at Almost DOUBLE the Limit

On May 23, 2024 around 2:00 AM, Sergeant Stephen Panepinto with the Colts Neck Police Department responded to the scene of a motor vehicle collision involving a white 2011 Honda Crosstour in the southbound lane of Route 34 near Blackbriar Drive. He arrived on scene and noticed that the vehicle had sustained severe front-end damages. There was also airbag deployment inside the vehicle. He initiated contact with the driver, and she was identified as 24-year-old Ruby Arena.

Ruby told him that she was headed back home from her sister’s house in Belmar. She would later admit to drinking at a bar with her sister in Belmar. As he was speaking with her, Sergeant Panepinto observed indicators of impairment. Based on his suspicion of impairment, he called for Patrolman Alexander Perkins to arrive on scene and assist. Once Patrolman Perkins arrived on scene, Ruby as asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises.

Patrolman Perkins started with the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Ruby failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step and failed to keep her arms at her sides. The second exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Ruby failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and did not count in the correct sequence. The final exercise was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, and it was administered by Patrolman Campan.

Based on the motor vehicle crash, the odor of alcohol, her admission to consuming alcohol, and her inability to satisfactorily perform the field sobriety exercises, Ruby was placed under arrest for operating under the influence. She was handcuffed and placed inside the patrol car. Her vehicle was impounded by for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law.

Ruby was transported to the Colts Neck Police Department for further processing. The Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators was read to her, and she agreed to submit breath samples. Her Alcotest results indicated a BAC level of 0.158%, which was almost double the legal limit of 0.08%. Once they finished processing her, Ruby was eventually released to her father pending her court appearance after he signed the Potential Liability Warning form on Ruby’s behalf.

Ruby was issued the following citations:

-Operating under the influence (39:4-50)

-Reckless driving (39:4-97)

-Careless driving (39:4-97)

-Failure to maintain lane (39:4-88)

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