Cops: DWI driver crashed, then iced roadway to cover it up

SPARTA, N. J. -- Two New Jersey men are facing charges after police say they tried to cover up a DWI crash by icing the roadway to make it appear as if that's what caused the accident, reports CBS New York.

Police say 20-year-old Brian Byers, of Sparta, New Jersey, blew through a stop sign and hit a guard rail early Saturday before fleeing the scene. They say another man, Alexander Zambenedetti, then drove Byers back to the scene where Byers allegedly poured water all over the intersection, creating dangerous black ice, reports the station.

A patrol officer reportedly spotted Byers walking in the middle of the road and saw Zambenedetti, also 20, sitting in the car with two five-gallon buckets of water in the back seat, with some water still inside. Police say Byers admitted that their plan had been to report that the accident was caused by the black ice - when in fact, Byers had been drinking, reports the station.

"You could actually see the skid marks underneath the water they had just put there, so we knew that they had dumped this water over the top of where he lost control of the vehicle rather than the vehicle losing control on the ice itself," Sgt. Dennis Proctor told CBS New York.

The temperature had reportedly dipped to one degree with a wind chill of negative 15 at the time of the incident. Public works crews had to apply a large amount of salt in order to make the roadway safe, police told the station.

Zambenedetti, who denied pouring water on the roadway, was arrested for DWI after failing a field sobriety test, reports the station. Byers is also charged with DWI, careless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and disorderly conduct.

Police reportedly say Zambenedetti also denied driving the car to the scene, despite having been found sitting in the driver's seat with the engine running.

Both alleged "ice-men" are due in court next week.