NJ Woman Oriel Dixon ID’d As Wrong-Way Driver In Monday Egg Harbor Twp Fatal DWI Crash

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ. (THECOUNT) — A tragic accident unfolded Monday night in New Jersey when 72-year-old Joseph Natale of Somers Point was killed after his 2015 Honda CRV was struck head-on by a 2006 Mercury Mountaineer driven by 38-year-old Oriel Dixon of Egg Harbor Township. The crash took place around 9 p.m. on Blackman Road, between Brookside Drive and Meadow Drive, in what has been described as an impaired driving incident by the Egg Harbor Township police.

According to the police report, Dixon was driving north on Blackman Road when she veered across the center line into oncoming traffic. Her vehicle continued in the wrong lane until it collided head-on with Joseph Natale’s southbound Honda CRV.

The impact of the crash was severe, resulting in Joseph Natale sustaining fatal injuries. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Tobias Natale, 28, who was a front-seat passenger in the Honda CRV, was also injured in the collision and hospitalized; however, the specifics of his injuries have not been disclosed by the police.

Oriel Dixon, who was behind the wheel of the Mercury Mountaineer, faced immediate legal repercussions. She was charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI). Both Dixon and her juvenile male passenger received medical attention for minor injuries from EMS at the scene. The investigation into the crash remains active, with additional charges expected to be filed against Dixon as the situation develops.

This incident underscores the ongoing issues of impaired driving and its deadly consequences. The Egg Harbor Township Police Department continues to pursue justice in this case, emphasizing the need for road safety and strict adherence to traffic laws.

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