Morristown Police: Motorist who took out downtown traffic light says he was avoiding deer

Repair crew on scene of downed traffic signal at South Street and Park Place, Sept. 17, 2017. Photo by Pamela Babcock
Repair crew on scene of downed traffic signal at South Street and Park Place, Sept. 17, 2017. Photo by Pamela Babcock
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Editor’s note: This report has been updated with additional information from the police report, including the make of vehicle, direction of travel and passenger name.

A West Orange man was charged with careless driving after his Porsche Panamera knocked down a traffic signal near the Morristown Green early on Sunday.

Lee Beamon, 50, told Officer Roberto Rosado that he hit the light pole to avoid striking a deer in the intersection, said police Capt. Michael Buckley.

The accident occurred around 4:25 a.m. on Sept. 17, 2017, at the pedestrian island at South Street and South Park Place. Beamon was traveling north on South Street, according to the police report.

Downed traffic signal and sign at pedestrian island near the Morristown Green, Sept. 17, 2017. Photo by Pamela Babcock.
Downed traffic signal and sign at pedestrian island near the Morristown Green, Sept. 17, 2017. Photo by Pamela Babcock.

Morristown police responded to a report of a crash with possible injuries.

Beamon was treated at the scene, where he complained of head pain, and passenger Paul B. Smith of Piscataway complained of knee pain, but they refused medical assistance from Atlantic EMS, according to the police report.

The State Department of Transportation was notified about the damaged light pole, and the Morristown Fire Department assisted cleaning debris from the roadway, Buckley said. He said Beamon was received a summons for careless driving.

1 COMMENT

  1. Beamon was traveling north on South Street? Really? Judging from the photograph he might have been driving against traffic. Something is wrong here as the street sign for South Street indicates East.

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