Cops: Driver Was Drunk, Asleep at the Wheel

A Long Valley woman was transported to after she was found intoxicated and asleep in the driver’s seat of her car on the side of Fairmount Road, according to Lt. Doug Compton.

A driver called police to report a stopped vehicle on the shoulder of the road, with a woman who appeared to be “slumped” over the steering wheel on Wednesday night, Compton said.

When Officer Adam Feichter, Sgt. Jeffrey Almer, and Cpl. Brian Bigham arrived, they located Karen Addeo, 37, sleeping while the vehicle was still in gear, Compton said.

Feichter then put the car in park and smelled a strong odor of alcohol in the car and on Addeo, Compton said. Feichter was able to awaken Addeo, who then said she had also consumed a large quantity of prescription medicines, Compton said.

The then reported to the scene to assist. A witness at the scene stated they saw Addeo driving “extremely erratically,” and at one point was traveling south in the northbound lane, Compton said. The witness said they saw Addeo pull over and appeared to fall asleep immediately, Compton said.

Addeo was removed from the vehicle and transported to Morristown Medical Center by the Long Valley First Aid Squad, and accompanied by Feichter, Compton said.

Addeo was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, consuming alcohol in a vehicle, and failure to keep right.

She had previously been charged in other incidents allegedly involving intoxication. In one, . In another, .

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