The East Orange man is charged with assault by auto.
An Essex County driver was intoxicated during a crash last month on Interstate 80 that broke a passenger's back, according to New Jersey State Police.
Eric Harris, 27, of East Orange, was allegedly intoxicated when he flipped a Jeep early on Aug. 24 on I-80 in Warren County, seriously injuring himself and a passenger. (Courtesy photo) Eric M. Harris, 27, of East Orange, is charged with assault by auto after flipping a 2004 Jeep Liberty on early Aug. 24 in Knowlton Township, about 6 miles from the Pennsylvania line, state police said.
The Jeep was allegedly exiting the highway for a scenic overlook when it drove off the ramp to the left, struck a curb and rolled.
Both Harris and rear-seat passenger Aleesha J. Dunbar, 25, of Newark, were seriously injured in the crash, according to state police. A criminal complaint filed at state Superior Court in Belvidere indicates Dunbar suffered a broken back and ribs. A trooper said she was flown to Morristown Medical Center for treatment while Harris was flown to a Lehigh Valley hospital with undisclosed injuries.
A front-seat passenger, 25-year-old Robert Baker of Tobyhanna, Pa., suffered minor injuries and declined medical attention, state police said.
The assault-by-auto charge against Harris alleges he was intoxicated at the time of the crash. He is also accused of driving with a suspended license.
Harris was sent to the Warren County jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.