Teens Fled Crash, Wanted to Sell Pot, Cops Say

Three teenage Long Valley females and another from Budd Lake were arrested Saturday on numerous charges, including intent to distribute narcotics and obstruction of justice, Mt. Olive Police said.

Meghan Brown, 18, of Long Valley, crashed into another vehicle at the intersection of Route 206 and Flanders-Netcong Road in Mt. Olive, Cpl. Eric Anthony said. The force of the crash caused Brown’s SUV to push the second vehicle into a third, Anthony said.

When police arrived on the scene, drivers from the other two vehicles involved in the crash told authorities three female passengers in Brown’s SUV had fled the scene, Anthony said. When questioned, Brown was not cooperative in providing the names or location of the passengers that fled, according to police. 

Police then found a case of beer in Brown’s car, and arrested the driver for underage possession of alcohol and obstruction of a police investigation, Anthony said.

Sgt. Carl Mase was driving near the crash scene and observed a vehicle on the side of Flanders-Netcong Road, which appeared to pick up individuals, Anthony said. Mase then conducted a motor vehicle stop, and it was determined the individuals picked up were those who fled the crash scene and Brown’s car, Anthony said. 

Ashley Smith, 18, of Budd Lake, Danielle Marianacci, 19, of Long Valley, and Sara Coviello, 19, also of Long Valley, were removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest, Anthony said.

During the stop, Mase found an open purse on the floor of the vehicle in the vicinity of where Marianacci was seated containing two glass jars with suspected marijuana inside, and a digital scale, Anthony said.

The driver of the vehicle was then allowed to leave as she was unaware her passengers had fled the crash scene, Anthony said.

Smith was charged with obstruction of justice and underage possession of alcohol.

Marianacci and Coviello were each charged with possession of marijuana over 50 grams, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstruction of justice, and underage possession of alcohol.

Marianacci and Coviello were held at the Morris County Correctional Facility in lieu of $15,000 bail each.