New Jersey

Caught on Video: NJ Officer Nearly Hit by Alleged Drunk Driver During Traffic Stop

A police officer in Atlantic County, New Jersey, came within inches of being hit by an out-of-control car during a traffic stop over the weekend. The close call was caught by his cruiser's dashboard camera.

Mullica Township Patrolman Erik Carricarte and his partner, Patrolman Michael Jamerson, had just pulled over two other drivers along the White Horse Pike around 4 a.m. Saturday when a blue Mazda sedan slammed into their patrol car.

"The vehicle probably came about a foot and a half from hitting me," Carricarte told NBC10's Ted Greenberg. "It was extremely scary."

After hitting both the cruiser, the Mazda slid into the woods. Police said they found Alex Opoku, 21 of Port Reading, New Jersey, behind the wheel. He was drunk and had marijuana in the car, police said.

See the exclusive dashcam video of the crash and hear more from Carricarte and Jamerson in Ted Greenberg's report above.

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