RAHWAY — Mayor Samson Steinman has taken a leave of absence after being involved in his second accident with a city-owned vehicle in less than a year.

In a statement issued by his office, Rahway's mayor will be addressing “a series of personal issues that began during childhood" in a "therapeutic setting" that will allow him to "focus on healing."

Following the accident, the statement said the Democrat passed a voluntary sobriety test but the event "reinforced the mayor's commitment to focus on his health."

A representative for the mayor's office would not answer additional questions.

MyCentralJersey.com reported that Steinman hit a parked car on March 18 with a Dodge Durango and was charged with careless driving. The son of the man whose car was hit told police that Steinman had said he hit a pot hole or slid on the ice causing him to lose control of the pickup.

Officers noted in the police report that Steinman, who was elected to office in 2014, did not smell of alcohol.

Steinman also hit a parked car in August and was driving with an expired license, according to the report.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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