Accused Drunken Driver Narrowly Misses Vernon Cruiser: Report

VERNON, CT — A Vernon police officer had to take evasive action to avoid being hit by a motorist who would subsequently be charged with drunken driving over the weekend, an arrest report indicates

At 2:19 a.m. on Saturday, a Vernon officer was in the parking lot of the Spare Time bowling center, 350 Talcottville Road, investigating a traffic incident, according to an arrest report. The officer was about to exit the parking lot when he saw a 2013 Hyundai Elantra swerve across both northbound lanes of Talcottville Road (state Route 83) and into the parking lot, according to an arrest report.

The car then took a "wide turn" and began heading toward the police cruiser, according to an arrest report. The officer had to put the cruiser in reverse to avoid being hit, according to an arrest report. The Hyundai then pulled next to the vehicle previously being investigated and the driver, identified as Ferdando Lopez, 23, of Regent St., Hartford, turned on his hazard lights, according to an arrest report.

Lopez then failed a standardized field sobriety test and was charged with driving under the influence and a turn signal violation, according to an arrest report. He had the owner of the other car in his car, police said.
He is due in court on March 20, according to an arrest report.

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