Trenton Man Sentenced For Crash That Could Have Killed Officer

A Trenton man pleaded guilty and was sentenced after he caused a car crash that injured a police officer.

Richard Morales, 30, of Trenton, was sentenced earlier this month to 48 hours to six months behind bars with presumptive parole considered for no misconduct and a confirmed address. In addition, county Judge Wallace Bateman ordered Morales to pay a $500 fine and undergo substance treatment.

Morales was drunk while speeding along Route 1 on the night of March 29, 2015. After speeding down Route 1 just past the Route 13 on-ramp around 10:45 p.m., Morales’ dark-colored sedan slammed  struck the rear of Officer Thomas Lundquist’s unmarked patrol as it was pulled over for a traffic stop, authorities said.

As the veteran Falls officer was outside his vehicle dealing with the sedan he pulled over for speeding, the collision happened and he was thrown into a small triangular area between all three vehicles involved.

According to court papers, Morales’ blood alcohol level was .113 percent, which above the .08 percent legal limit.

Lundquist suffered injuries to his right wrist and ankle but narrowly avoided being crushed, police said at the time of the crash.

At the scene, Morales’ car was covered with his blood and his head pushed a hole through the windshield due to the impact of the crash.

Aside from the officer and Morales, the four passengers in the car initially stopped by police were checked out for injuries.

At the time, Lundquist rode with a K-9 dog but the dog was not with him that night due to a mechanical issue with his specially outfitted SUV. The dog was kenneled at home, police said.

In early January, Moreales pleaded guilty to simple assault, DUI and reckless endangerment. Charges of aggravated assault by vehicle were withdrawn by prosecutors.