A man identified as a rookie Jersey City police officer was charged with drunk driving in Hoboken after running over traffic cones marking a closed street, dragging them along as he continued to drive through the roadway.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Hugh McDonnell 36, of Jersey City, was charged with driving While Intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle on a closed public roadway, according to Det. Lt. Danilo Cabrera.
McDonnell became a Jersey City police officer on July 1st, 2019, according to state records.
Yesterday at approximately 11:36 a.m., Sgt. Steven Kranz, while working a traffic detail at a construction zone, observed a white Toyota drive through a closed street. The street was closed off with traffic cones to southbound traffic from 6th and Jefferson Streets.
The operator of the white Toyota drove through and over the cones, dragging cones as he drove on the closed street. Kranz gave verbal and visual commands for the car to stop. Once stopped, he approached the driver, authorities said.
The man was identified as McDonnell and through their interaction, Kranz believed he was intoxicated. McDonnell was put through a field sobriety test, failed, and was placed under arrest for DWI, officials said.
McDonnell provided breath samples and the results showed that his blood alcohol content was above the legal limit. After receiving his two summonses, McDonnell was released to a responsible party, police said.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with new information.
