Riverwalk becomes car launch

HARRISON –

An out-of-town motorist ended up in the drink in the wee hours this past weekend after she apparently lost control of her vehicle.

Police said Evelyn Perovic, 26, of Bloomfield, later told officers that she’d dropped off her friend at Penn Station in Newark at around 2:30 a.m. Friday, March 3, but was unfamiliar with the area.

Perovic told police she was using her GPS to try and navigate her way back to Bloomfield.

But, based on officers’ observations, Perovic ended up in Harrison, traveling west on Bergen St., off of Dey St., and then – going at a high rate of speed – continued onto the Riverwalk, a road not intended for vehicular passage.

Police said Perovic was unable to maneuver the turn and drove through a fence into the Passaic River where her vehicle – a 2015 four-door black BMW — became submerged.

Perovic told police that upon impact with the water, her airbags did not deploy, that she was able to extricate herself and swim to a guard station nearby.

MONOC, Harrison’s emergency dispatch unit, was sent to the scene but police said Perovic declined medical attention.

She was transported to HPD headquarters where she related her recollection of the mishap.

Police issued Perovic three summonses charging her with careless driving, operating a motor vehicle causing property damage and causing damage to municipal property.

Police notified N.J. State Police Marine Division and they were expected to respond later in the day to deal with the vehicle.

– Ron Leir

 

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