MIDDLE TOWNSHIP — Middle Township Police Patrolman Austin Kapurelos was seriously injured when he was struck by a vehicle driven by a suspected impaired driver shortly after 10 p.m. Oct. 16.
Kapurelos was conducting a motor vehicle stop on Route 47 South (Wildwood Boulevard) when the incident occurred. Emergency personnel provided immediate aid, and Kapurelos was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries. He was listed in critical but stable condition.
The driver, identified as Lucio Lopez-Perez, 36, of Erma, remained at the scene and was taken into custody for suspected impaired driving. Lopez-Perez was charged with driving while intoxicated, assault by auto and violation of public health and safety law resulting in serious bodily injury, along with multiple other traffic offenses.
Lopez-Perez was processed and subsequently lodged in the Cape May County Jail on a warrant. All charges are allegations and the accused is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The crash remains under investigation by the Middle Township Police Department and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.
