Jersey City says drunken driver struck 3 police officers, 2 other people on sidewalk

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (WABC) -- Seven people, including three police officers, were taken to the hospital after a crash Sunday involving a drunken driver in an out-of-control car in Jersey City, officials said.

"This is your black Mercedes that was damaged correct?" Eyewitness News said.

"It is," one of the victims said.

A large amount of carnage is what's left behind from chain reaction car accident on Ocean Avenue in Jersey City Sunday night. The black Benz is a casualty.

"Heard screeching, heard boom, heard screaming, I ran out with my phone and dialed 911, I saw people laid out, a saw a police officer laying there, she fell on another person," one of the victims said.

Witnesses say the driver of the minivan behaved oddly, after police say it was speeding and rear ended a Nissan parked near Myrtle Avenue around 8 p.m.

"It was too fast, so I see the police on the floor, and I see the guy from the Chinese store on the floor," said Yocairy Rosario, an eyewitness.

"I was jumping out of the car but I couldn't get out, and I just lay back," a driver said.

A 52-year-old father was behind the wheel of the Nissan that jumped the curb, hitting a group of pedestrians including three Jersey City police officers.

"So that's what pushed me over, the van from this car up to the sidewalk," a driver said.

"He's a good kid, he's always been good, but he's lost right now, he's been under the influence of drugs, so he's lost right now," said Mary Felton, the suspect's cousin.

30-year-old Keith Jeffers has been charged with DWI, assault by auto, and leaving the scene of an accident. But, his family says he doesn't own a red minivan. They heard he was being arrested a few blocks from the scene and went there to check it out.

"I was taking him and we were leaving, and then they ran up and grabbed him again and put him in the car and I was like, 'What are you all doing? You all had him, you let him go and you all are taking him again.' So I don't know what happened," Felton said.