Driver who survived drug overdose in Jackson now facing criminal charges

A New Jersey man survived a drug overdose behind the wheel of a motor vehicle in Jackson Township and is now facing criminal charges along with his passenger.

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Eleana Kuzel, 25, Moorestown took control of the wheel on Friday August 6 as her boyfriend Alexey Laptin, 32, Newtonville began turning blue and showing signs of an overdose as the car swerved into oncoming traffic.

From there, police said she was able to put the vehicle in park and when the vehicle was finally stopped, Kuzel pulled Laptin out of the vehicle and began trying to wave other motorists down to help.

Jackson Police arrived to the vehicle on West Veterans Highway near Hawkin Road around 3:52 pm and were flagged down by bystanders who were standing near Laptin who was supine on the shoulder of the roadway.

Officers noticed he was turning blue and showing signs of an overdose so Narcan was administered which provided some improvement but Laptin remained unconscious.

He was then brought to the hospital for treatment.

While police were speaking with Kuzel, they said they noticed "what appeared to be a glass crack pipe protruding from her bra in plain view," and then, "a large bulge was observed in the spandex pants she was wearing and this was discovered to be a small container which held various paraphernalia used for drug use."

Police also said that Kuzel appeared to be under the influence as well of CDS.

The on-scene investigation continued and during a search police found several wax folds containing heroin, additional wax folds which contained Fentanyl, glass pipes and drug paraphernalia.

Police said that the vehicle was a rental vehicle and was then impounded and then turned back over to the rental company.

Kuzel was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of heroin, possession of Fentanyl, hindering, tampering with evidence and being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance and was then released on summons pending a court appearance.

Laptin is charged with driving while intoxicated, possession of a controlled dangerous substance while operating a motor vehicle and reckless driving.

He was issued the summonses and left in the care of the hospital.