DRIVER WHO CRITICALLY INJURED PORT AUTHORITY POLICE OFFICER CHARGED WITH DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED & OTHER UPGRADED CHARGES

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

A Queens woman who critically injured a Port Authority Police Officer last week after striking him with her vehicle, as well as injuring two Jersey City Police Officers, has been charged with Driving While Intoxicated and additional upgraded charges after her blood alcohol test determined she was over the legal limit.

Amandeep Tiwana, age 27, of Flushing, New York, was arrested without incident just after 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 in Harrison, New Jersey, by members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Regional Collision Investigation Unit and officers from the Harrison Police Department.

Tiwana has been charged with Driving While Intoxicated in violation of N.J. Title 39:4-50. Additionally, Tiwana was charged last week with the fourth degree offense of Assault by Auto in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1c(1) and that charge has now been upgraded to a second degree offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1c(3). In addition to being over the legal alcohol limit, Hudson County Regional Collision Unit investigators believe Ms. Tiwana was traveling at an excessive rate of speed.

Tiwana has additionally been charged with multiple motor vehicle offenses, including reckless driving, speeding, unsafe lane change, failure to obey traffic restrictions during emergency conditions, disregard of officers directing traffic, and committing a disorderly act during an emergency.

The Port Authority Police Officer, Peter Siano, III, remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition at the Jersey City Medical Center. Both Jersey City Police Officers were treated at the Jersey City Medical Center for minor injuries.

On Tuesday, April 28, 2020, just after 12:30 a.m., the Jersey City Police Department responded to a motor vehicle accident in which the driver, a 32-year-old New York woman, overturned her vehicle on eastbound Route 139 (depressed highway). The driver was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center with minor injuries.

While Officer Siano and three Jersey City Police Officers were securing the initial crash scene and doing traffic control, Tiwana – who was heading eastbound on Route 139 – struck the median divider, struck a JCPD radio car, and also struck Officer Siano causing serious bodily injuries.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office will be moving to detain Tiwana on the upgraded charges. The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).