Vernon Police

October 29 At 8:45 p.m., Vernon Township Police Ptl. Shaun Fitzgerald responded to a report of a vehicle that had struck a telephone pole on Drew Mountain Road. Upon arrival, Ptl. Fitzgerald observed that a 1987 Buick LeSabre had taken down a telephone pole and wires were across the roadway. The roadway was closed for five hours before being cleared by the Sussex Rural Electric Co-op. The driver, a 17-year-old female juvenile, appeared to have suffered minor injuries and was transported to St. Clare’s hospital in Sussex by the Glenwood-Pochuck Ambulance Corps. Investigation by Ptl. Fitzgerald led to initial charges of driving while intoxicated and possession of marijuana against the juvenile with further charges pending. October 31 At 8:45 a.m., an 8-year-old boy was struck by a passing motorist on Route 565. The motorist was identified as Timothy R. Mauer, 64, of Vernon. A Vernon Township Police Department investigation revealed that the boy exited his father’s vehicle on seeing his school bus approaching his bus stop. The bus was traveling south and northbound traffic, including Mauer’s 2005 Toyota Camry, were still moving when the boy ran into the roadway. He ran into the right side passenger door of Mauer’s car and was flipped into the air before landing on the ground. The boy was flown to Morristown Hospital by Northstar Medivac to be treated for undetermined injuries, according to police. Medic 53 Paramedics, the Glenwood-Pochuck Ambulance Corps and the Pochuck Fire Department assisted at the scene and at the helicopter landing zone. The investigation is continuing and no charges were filed immediately following the accident. October 20 At 9:07 p.m., while on patrol Ptl. Scott Carrell observed a silver Saturn traveling south on Rt. 94 at a high rate of speed (54 in 35 m.p.h. zone). When Ptl. Carrell attempted to stop the Saturn it accelerated and abruptly turned left onto Cumulous Drive, where it eventually stopped. The driver of the vehicle, William J. Flaherty of the Barry Lakes section of Vernon, informed Ptl. Carrell that he turned onto Cumulous Drive because he vas picking up his step daughter in that area. Flaherty was unable to provide an address or phone number for where he was going to pick up his step daughter. Flaherty was arrested and charged with eluding a police officer, speeding, careless driving and failure to have a vehicle registration. He was released pending a Nov. 14, Vernon Township Municipal Court appearance.