DRIVER WHO CRITICALLY INJURED PORT AUTHORITY POLICE OFFICER CHARGED WITH SECOND COUNT OF ASSAULT BY AUTO FOR INJURING A JERSEY CITY POLICE OFFICER

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

A Queens woman who critically injured a Port Authority Police Officer in April after striking him with her vehicle while driving while intoxicated has been additionally charged with Assault  By Auto for also injuring a Jersey City Police Officer.

Amandeep Tiwana, age 27, of Flushing, New York, who is being held at the Hudson County Correctional Center in Kearny, was charged on Monday, June 22, 2020, with Assault by Auto in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1C(3)(A), a crime of the third degree.

Tiwana was previously charged with Driving While Intoxicated in violation of N.J. Title 39:4-50 and second degree offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1c(3). 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.

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.

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 Port Authority Police 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.  Jersey City Police Officer David Valente was also injured as a result of the crash, causing bodily injury to his left hand.

The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).