A 17-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after a crash on Route 22 West in Union Township left three teenagers in critical condition late last week. Six people, including four juveniles and two 18-year-olds, were in a white 2015 Honda Accord when a gray 2021 GMC Acadia struck it on the driver's side just before 11 p.m. Friday near the Union Plaza Shopping Center.
The Honda was leaving the shopping center at 2446 Route 22 West and entering the highway when the GMC Acadia struck it on the driver's side, according to Daily Voice. The Honda was carrying four juveniles and two 18-year-olds at the time of the collision, per the outlet's reporting. Deputy Police Chief Barry Cohen reported the crash occurred at 10:52 p.m.
Three of the Honda's occupants were transported to University Hospital in Newark and remained in critical condition, the outlet reported. The other three occupants of the Honda, along with the driver of the GMC, suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Why the Newark Trauma Center Matters
University Hospital in Newark houses the Eric Muñoz Trauma Center, the only state-designated Level I Trauma Center serving all of Northern New Jersey, according to University Hospital Newark. The hospital completed a major emergency department modernization in September 2025 specifically to expand its capacity for treating severe trauma cases across the region, the hospital says. That the three critically injured teens were routed there underscores the severity of their injuries.
The 17-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, police said, per the same account from the outlet that first reported the crash. Route 22 West was shut down following the collision and did not reopen until 2 a.m. Union Police Officer Steve DeJesus is leading the investigation, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Union Police Department Traffic Bureau at 908-851-5070.
What New Jersey's Zero-Tolerance Law Means Here
New Jersey enforces a strict zero-tolerance standard for underage drivers. Under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.14, any driver younger than 21 who registers a blood alcohol concentration of just 0.01% can be convicted, explains The Kugel Law Firm. A conviction under that statute carries a 30-to-90-day license suspension, 15 to 30 days of mandatory community service, and required attendance at an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center.
If toxicology testing eventually shows the teen driver's blood alcohol concentration at 0.08% or higher, prosecutors could add standard adult DWI charges under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 on top of the underage zero-tolerance charge, according to Casper Bloom Law. A first-offense adult DWI conviction in New Jersey carries fines up to $400, up to 30 days of potential imprisonment, mandatory ignition interlock device installation, and a $1,000 annual insurance surcharge for three years.
Separately, New Jersey's Graduated Driver License program includes passenger limits and curfews for young drivers, per the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. The Honda's six occupants and the crash's timing raise questions about whether passenger-limit or curfew rules could be relevant; no such charges have been confirmed.
A Dangerous Stretch of Route 22
Route 22 in Union Township has seen serious collisions. In July 2026, a 61-year-old pedestrian was fatally struck near Ball Avenue while attempting to cross toward the median, according to RLS Media.
Union police are also seeking information about a hit-and-run that critically injured a pedestrian on Chestnut Street earlier this month.
Teen Driving Risk and Statewide Numbers
Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for U.S. teens aged 15 to 19, according to data cited by the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Teenage drivers crash roughly four times more frequently than any other age group, and a teen driver's fatality risk increases by 44% with one passenger.
Whether additional charges, including possible GDL violations or assault by auto, will be filed against the 17-year-old remains to be seen as toxicology results and the crash reconstruction are finalized.
