Driver in Route 23 Crash Due in Court

The 15-year-old passenger remains in critical condition Monday, according to

The driver of the vehicle, which slid on grass and overturned near the Smoke Rise turnaround around midnight on July 16, is scheduled to appear for a "first procedure" in Tuesday.

of four counts of fourth-degree assault by auto, one count of third-degree assault by auto, DWI, underage DWI, reckless driving, failure to stay right and several violations under the provisional license.

Peralta was allegedly under the influence of alcohol when he was driving the 2008 Dodge with five passengers, between the ages of 13 and 18 and all from Clifton, that crashed into the Route 23 guardrail. Police said all six occupants of the vehicle, including Peralta, were injured and transported to the hospital by and the West Milford First Aid Squad.

When police first arrived on the scene, four of the vehicle's passengers were allegedly sitting on the road and Peralta was in the backseat attempting to aid the 15-year-old passenger who was unconscious and suffered from a head injury. The 15-year-old, whose name was not released because of his age, has been in critical condition at Morristown Medical Center since.

Peralta was arrested Tuesday and sent to the Morris County Jail where he later posted $25,000 bail with a 10 percent option.

Kinnelon Municipal Court Administrator Elizabeth Bansfield-Mossa said Peralta's appearance on Tuesday will not involve him entering a plea. Instead, Peralta will be read his rights and potential penalties he may face if convicted of the indictable charges.

Bansfield-Mossa said cases involving indictable charges are sent to Morris County Superior Court and only referred back to municipal court if the charges are downgraded. After Tuesday's scheduled procedure date, the administrator said Peralta could have an intake interview appointment with criminal case management to begin the court process, but it may be months before he appears in a courtroom.