Update: Driver of Car that Hit Pedestrian Issued DWI Summons

The Westfield resident driving the car, which struck a pedestrian in front of Lord & Taylor around noon Wednesday, has been issued a summons for driving while intoxicated.

Police Captain Clifford Autcher said that the driver, Leslie Boughner, 55, was issued a summons earlier Wednesday and released "to a responsible and sober adult" under the terms of New Jersey's John's Law. Boughner was driving eastbound on North Avenue Wednesday when she hit Gina Marotta, 25, of Clark, who was walking to the department store from the employee parking lot across the street.

Autcher said that police have obtained a blood sample from Boughner and will be testing that as part of the investigation. He said the police did not have a blood alcohol level for Boughner and would not release it if they did. Police Captain David Wayman, who was present at the scene, said that Boughner was cooperative with the responding officers. The accident remains under investigation.

Marotta was thrown by Boughner's 2005 maroon Ford Taurus and sustained several injuries. She was awake at the scene when emergency officials arrived. Autcher said that Marotta was in surgery Wednesday afternoon for a broken arm, broken leg and head injuries sustained in the accident. Marotta was being treated at University Hospital in Newark. Wayman had said that Marotta's injuries did not appear to be life threatening.

John's Law, which was signed by former Gov. Donald DiFrancesco in 2001, requires the police to impound the vehicles of drunken drivers for a minimum of 12 hours and to issue responsibility warnings to the adults taking custody of those detained for drunk driving. A flat bed truck was at the scene of the accident Wednesday to impound Boughner's Taurus.