Police: High Driver with Infant Daughter in Car Flees Mahwah Crash

A man living in Mahwah was arrested in the township after allegedly driving under the influence of marijuana with an infant in the car when he got into a hit-and-run accident Tuesday morning, Mahwah Police Chief Jim Batelli said Tuesday afternoon.

According to Batelli, Michael Delaney, 32, was driving his Jeep north on Franklin Turnpike at about 10:17 a.m. Tuesday when he hit a car stopped at the Bellgrove Drive intersection stop sign. Delaney fled the scene of the accident, but stopped nearby on Armour Road, police said.

Delaney admitted to responding police officer Thomas Solimano that he had smoked marijuana and consumed a “large amount of over-the-counter cold medicine” Tuesday morning before driving, Batelli said.

The man’s two-and-a-half month old infant daughter was sitting in the back of the car at the time of the accident, Batelli said.

According to cops, Delaney is originally from Levittown, N.Y., but has been living in Mahwah with his fiancé.

He was arrested and charged with driving while under the influence of narcotics, DWI with a minor in the car, driving with a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, and being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, a criminal complaint, Batelli said.

Police say this is Delaney’s second DWI arrest.

According to cops, the infant was released to a family member and child protective services were notified.

Delaney is expected to answer the charges in Mahwah Municipal Court on Feb. 18.