Ghastly find in Lakewood — NJ Top News

Here are the top New Jersey news stories for Monday:

⬛ 2 NJ police officers hospitalized by drunk driver, cops say

SADDLE RIVER — A man from New York City was drunk and speeding when he crashed into two police vehicles involved in a traffic stop, according to prosecutors.

Joseph Ford, 18, was one of four people hospitalized by the four-car chain-reaction crash in Saddle River late Saturday night.

He's charged with driving while intoxicated, third-degree assault by auto, third-degree leaving the scene of an accident, and three counts of fourth-degree assault by auto, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

⬛ Heartless vandals tear up Middletown, NJ soccer field

MIDDLETOWN — All soccer and football practices at a Monmouth County sports field are canceled for the rest of the season, according to a published report.

Someone did donuts in the grass at Lincroft Acres soccer field in Middletown last week.

The township said on Facebook that the fields were seriously damaged. Video posted by News 12 showed that the tire marks from the donuts covered large sections of the soccer fields.

⬛ Second fatal crash on busy NJ highway this week kills 2

LINDEN — Two people are dead after the second overnight crash on Route 1&9 in just over a day.

The crash early Saturday morning involved a 2013 Infiniti sedan and a tractor-trailer, police said.

It happened shortly before 3 a.m. at the intersection of Route 1&9 and S. Stiles Street in Linden.

An investigation at the scene found the Infiniti sedan was driving north on Route 1&9. As it entered the intersection, the sedan hit the tractor-trailer heading south that was making a left turn onto S. Stiles Street.

⬛ NJ could crack down on homeowners responsible for bear encounters

TRENTON — New Jersey is considering cracking down more on feeding of black bears.

The current law, in place since 2002, is described by the Animal Protection League of New Jersey as "ambiguous" and the enforcement as "poor."

This proposed bill would only apply to areas like the Northwest corner of New Jersey where black bears are known to frequent.

⬛ Body found hanging in tree in Lakewood, report says

LAKEWOOD — Police are investigating the death of a man in this Ocean County township.

The apparent victim is a 23-year-old Hispanic man, according to Lakewood police Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith.

His body was found hanging in a tree Sunday morning around 7 a.m., the Lakewood Scoop reported.

Start your day with up-to-the-minute news, traffic and weather for the Garden State.

New Jersey's First News with Eric Scott is the longest running news program in New Jersey. Eric Scott began hosting the program in 1991.

It airs live on New Jersey 101.5 each weekday morning from 5:30 - 6 a.m.

New Jersey's First News with Eric Scott is the winner of the prestigious National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast.

Eric Scott is the senior political director and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at eric.scott@townsquaremedia.com

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