19-Year-Old Girl Crashes her Boyfriend's Mercedes While Drunk

Around 1:17 AM on January 5, 2025, Officers Ryan Vanaman and Oscar Cleaver with the Highland Park Police Department first responded to an automated severe crash notification on N 2nd Avenue near the intersection of Denison Street. They arrived on scene and made contact with the driver of a white 2017 Mercedes-Benz, and she was eventually identified as 19-year-old Vanesa Cruz. The owner of the vehicle was her 19-year-old boyfriend, who was identified as Bertie Eva.

The Mercedes-Benz had struck 3 other parked vehicles, but no one appeared to be injured. Sergeant Kevin Garrity arrived on scene shortly afterwards, and asked Vanesa what happened. Vanesa told him that they had left his apartment in Highland Park, and admitted that they were both not sober. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Vanesa was asked to perform field sobriety exercises.

The first exercise was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test. During the HGN test, Sergeant Garrity observed the lack of smooth pursuit and distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn. During the Walk and Turn test, Vanesa failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step, turned improperly, and did not count aloud in the correct sequence. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Vanesa failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and put her foot down multiple times before the test was complete.

Based on the motor vehicle crash, the odor of alcohol, and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, Sergeant Garrity placed Vanesa under arrest for driving under the influence. The vehicle she was driving was impounded for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law. Sergeant Garrity transported Vanesa to the Highland Park Police Department for further processing.

At the Highland Park Police Department, Vanesa was read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators, and agreed to submit breath samples. Her Alcotest results indicated a BAC level of 0.111%, which was significantly over New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.01% for drivers under 21 years of age. When the officers were finished with processing her, Vanesa was released to her father pending her court appearance after he signed the Potential Liability Warning form on Vanesa’s behalf.

Sergeant Garrity issued Vanessa the following traffic citations:

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

-Operating under the influence underage (39:4-50.14)

-Reckless driving (39:4-96)

-Traffic on marked lanes (39:4-88)

-Driving without a license (39:3-10B)

On March 17, 2026, Vanesa pleaded guilty to operating under the influence while her citation of reckless driving was downgraded to unsafe operation (39:4-97.2). As a result of her guilty pleas, Vanesa had to spend 12 hours at an intoxicated driver resource center and pay a total of $823 in fines. The other 3 citations were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

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