Credit: Fairfield Police

"Catania allegedly consumed a quantity of heroin
while in or around the Dunkin Donuts located on
Passaic Avenue in Fairfield," commented the Chief.
​
"He then drove through the rear driveway of the Dunkin Donuts, which is also shared with the Goddard School."

Credit: Fairfield Police

"Surveillance video shows the BMW stopping for about five minutes in the parking lot of the nursery school just before the vehicle is seen accelerating across Little Falls Road, nearly striking two passing vehicles."

"I was in the store when it happened,"
commented Michele Chiaia.
"Inside the store it sounded like an explosion.
The wall was hit which caused
all the frozen pizzas to fly out of the freezers.
It was very scary.
​I hope the driver is ok, it looks really really bad."

Credit: Fairfield Police After investigating the incident, Holzmann charged Catania with: operating a motor vehicle while under the influence use of a controlled dangerous substance  driving while under the influence in a school zone careless and reckless driving  He is scheduled for an initial appearance in the Fairfield Municipal Court on July 13.

“Thankfully, no one else was injured during this incident especially children from the nursery school," commented Chief Manna. "Our nation’s heroin epidemic continues to jeopardize, not only those who have fallen to its addictive spell, but as this case almost showed, the innocent citizen who happens to be ​in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Credit: Fairfield Police

"When officers arrived, it was determined that the driver was able to exit the vehicle, remove the child, and hand him off
to an individual who apparently witnessed the accident
and stopped," explained Manna. 
"The driver then allegedly passed out.
​
Arriving officers performed CPR on the driver and she was eventually taken to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson,
​with serious, life threatening injuries.
The child appeared uninjured
but was also taken to the hospital for evaluation."

Credit: Paul DiFrancescantonio

"Officers discovered a single engine Cessna 206
had crashed in the wooded area behind 810 Passaic Avenue 
just after take off from the Essex County Airport," 
commented West Caldwell Police Captain Gerard Paris.
"The wreckage was completely engulfed by fire
which the West Caldwell Fire Department extinguished.
  The pilot and sole occupant was found in the wreckage, deceased."

The tarp was set up over the crash site. Credit: Janet Markman

"I witnessed the plane coming down and crashing," Alvine commented.
"I was the first on the scene and called it into the police.
I then called out for a working fire dispatch for mutual aid from
Fairfield, Caldwell, Verona and the First Aid Squad.  
I set up command in the parking lot at 810 Passaic Avenue and gave instructions to the incoming fire trucks and towns.
We had to cut the fence of the day care center
to enter the area where the plane was burning.
Then we stretched two lines coming into the woods
and eventually extinguished the fire.
The victim was found still in the plane.
The fire was extinguished and command of the scene
was turned over to police agencies."  

"I was the first one to reach the wreckage," Connolly commented. 
"I jumped the fence and made my way to the plane.
I advised West Caldwell command that there was one body in the plane 
but I continued searching the perimeter for any other victims."

Credit: Karla Gaeta Post