“She was all over the road,” a witness told officers shortly before the Westfield NJ Mercedes Hit and Run investigation turned into a high-stakes DWI arrest.. On a Saturday night in Westfield, New Jersey, what began as a minor fender bender escalated into a series of failed sobriety tests and a criminal arrest for a 56-year-old Roselle woman..
Table of Contents
Watch: Westfield NJ Mercedes Hit and Run Caught on Camera
Note: Pay close attention to the timestamp at 00:30:49 where the suspect tells the officer, “I am a person who is not used to balancing,” as the field sobriety test begins to fail..
Full Story: How the Incident Unfolded
On May 6, 2023, at approximately 10:03 PM, Westfield Police Officer Perconte responded to South Avenue and Central Avenue for a reported crash.. Dispatch warned that a tan or silver Mercedes had already fled the scene..
The victim, Joshua Cospito, was parked on Central Avenue picking up friends when he heard a loud bang.. A Mercedes had clipped his rear driver-side bumper and kept driving North.. Joshua and his passengers followed the vehicle to get a description and license plate: “L20LES.”.
Sergeant Bruno spotted the Mercedes near North Avenue and initiated a stop at Central and Lenox.. As the suspect, Lynda Bryant, pulled over, she reportedly struck the curb with her front tire..
Inside the car, the scene was tense. Bryant appeared confused, claiming she was simply heading home to Roselle from an event in Rahway.. Despite visible fresh damage to her front passenger wheel, she denied any knowledge of a collision..
The Evidence: Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
Officer Perconte noted several red flags: watery eyes, droopy eyelids, a strong odor of perfume, and a swaying gait.. He then administered three major tests:
1. The Alphabet Test Bryant was asked to recite the alphabet from C to W without singing.. She failed to follow instructions, starting from “A” both times and mumbling the final letters..
2. Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) Officers observed a “lack of smooth pursuit” and distinct nystagmus (jerking of the eyes) at maximum deviation in both eyes..
3. Walk and Turn / One Leg Stand On a flat, level surface, Bryant struggled significantly.. She took 15 steps instead of 9, stepped off the line, and lost her balance so frequently she tried to grab onto Officer Jacques for support..
The Arrest: Charges Against Lynda Bryant
Following the failed tests, Bryant was arrested and transported to headquarters.. An Alcotest revealed a BAC of 0.15%, nearly double the legal limit..
| Charge | Simple Explanation | Potential Penalty (US) |
| N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 | Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) | Fines, License Suspension, IDRC |
| N.J.S.A. 39:4-129(B) | Leaving Scene of Accident (Property Damage) | Fines, Points, Possible Jail |
| N.J.S.A. 39:4-130 | Failure to Report Accident | Fines, Court Costs |
| N.J.S.A. 39:4-96 | Reckless Driving | 5 Points, Fines, Possible Jail |
| N.J.S.A. 39:4-97 | Careless Driving | 2 Points, Fines |
Legal Analysis: Was the Westfield NJ Mercedes Hit and Run Stop Justified?
As a legal expert, the “reasonable suspicion” for this stop was exceptionally high. The victim provided a matching license plate number (“L20LES”) and a specific vehicle description that Sergeant Bruno confirmed in real-time..
The search incident to arrest was performed after the suspect failed multiple field sobriety tests and displayed physical signs of intoxication.. New Jersey’s “John’s Law” also mandated the impoundment of the vehicle due to the DWI charge..
[Read more Evidence Decode investigations here]
Frequently Asked Questions: Understanding the Legal Fallout
What is “John’s Law” and why was the vehicle impounded immediately?
“John’s Law” is a New Jersey regulation that allows police to impound a vehicle for at least 12 hours when the driver is arrested for DWI. This is a safety measure designed to prevent intoxicated individuals from regaining access to their car and getting back on the road shortly after being released from custody.
Can a driver be charged with a “Hit and Run” if there were no injuries?
Yes, under N.J.S.A. 39:4-129(B), leaving the scene of an accident that involves only property damage is still a serious offense. Even if the scuff or dent is minor, the law requires drivers to stop and exchange information; failing to do so leads to the “Hit and Run” classification.
What is the significance of a 0.15% BAC result in a New Jersey court?
In New Jersey, a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.15% is nearly double the legal limit of 0.08%. This specific level often triggers enhanced penalties, such as a longer mandatory period for an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) to be installed in the offender’s vehicle.
Why do police perform the “Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus” (HGN) test?
The HGN test looks for involuntary jerking of the eyes, which becomes more pronounced when a person is under the influence of alcohol. Because this eye movement cannot be controlled by the suspect, it is considered one of the most reliable field indicators for physical intoxication.
Is a “DWI Questionnaire” mandatory during police processing?
While the police provide the questionnaire and the Alcohol Influence Report to document the suspect’s state of mind and physical condition, the suspect’s responses (or lack thereof) are used as evidence. In this case, the suspect’s confusion and denials regarding the accident were documented to support the officer’s observation of impairment.
Conclusion & Current Status
Lynda Bryant was processed and eventually released to her daughter, Sakeema James.. Her vehicle was impounded, and she was issued five summonses with a mandatory court date..
Download Police Report click here.
Disclaimer: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This report is based on official police records from the Westfield Police Department, Case #23-20549.
Don’t Rely on Their Word Alone In this case, conflicting stories led to an arrest. The only way to prove your innocence in a traffic stop is with your own 4K evidence. Protect yourself this holiday season. 🎄 Click Here