Forked River Man Arrested After Allegedly Driving Car Off Roadway

A Forked River man was arrested after he allegedly drove a vehicle off of a roadway damaging decorative stonewall of a residence and the lawn of a local marina.

Robert Donnelly, 55, was arrested at approximately 10:15 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20 after police discovered a heavily damaged 2002 Toyota Rav-4 on Sylvania Place in Forked River.

Donnelly was the vehicle’s lone occupant when police discovered the vehicle. The vehicle sustained damage to its passenger side and rear axle and was only operable in reverse.

After investigating the cause of the damage to the vehicle, police found that the Toyota had been towing a 17-foot boat west on Lakeside Drive East in Forked River prior to parking at Sylvania Place.

While on Lakeside Drive East, the vehicle left the roadway and struck approximately 30 feet of a decorative stonewall of a residence, the residence’s mailbox, and then a utility pole.

Donnelly disconnected the trailer from the Toyota and left the boat parked on Lakeside Drive East. The Toyota continued traveling west onto the lawn of a marina where it damaged the landscaping.

Donnelly was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, failure to exhibit insurance, failure to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, and failure to maintain lane.

The Toyota was impounded under John’s Law and his boat and trailer were towed from the scene.