Drunken Driver Causes Collision; Brother Injured, Sparta Cops Say

A Sparta teen was driving drunk when he caused a collision that left his brother injured, Sgt. John P. Beebe said Sunday.

Farrel J. Windle, 18, was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier north on East Mountain Road after 2 a.m. Sunday when he ignored a stop sign at the intersection with Glen Road, Beebe said. He drove through the intersection and turned into the path of a Jeep Liberty driven by a 24-year-old Sparta woman, Beebe said.

The woman tried to avoid Windle's Cavalier but instead struck it on the driver's side, sending it into a counter-clockwise spin before both vehicles came to a stop.

Windle's passenger, his brother Lewis Windle, 24, had a large contusion on his head and was drifting in and out of consciousness when paramedics arrived. Lewis Windle was transported to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released.

The 24-year-old Sparta woman was uninjured, Beebe said. Responders did not find any evidence to suggest she was driving carelessly or speeding, and she was not charged, the sergeant said.

Farrel Windle was charged with drunken driving, underage DWI, reckless driving, failure to stop and yield, violation of a provisional driver's license and failure to inspect. Additional charges are pending.

Windle will answer the charges at 6 p.m. Monday in Sparta Municipal Court, Beebe said.