Drunk Driver Almost Hits Skateboarder, Gives Fake Name: Cops

EAST HAMPTON, NY — An East Hampton man drove drunk, narrowly missed a skateboarder, and gave authorities a fake name, police said.

According to East Hampton Town Police, Juan E. Mejia-Lopez, 38, was arrested on Saturday at 8:55 p.m. on Three Mile Harbor Road near Copeces Lane after he crossed over the solid white pavement marking on the southbound shoulder several times and "almost struck a pedestrian on a skateboard," police said.

Upon investigation, Mejia-Lopez was found to have the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, police said. Empty beer cans were found in his vehicle, and he also had bloodshot, glassy eyes, slurred speech, was unsteady on his feet and performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests administered, police said.

He also gave police a different name and date of birth, authorities said.

He was arrested and charged with false personation, a misdemeanor, driving while intoxicated, first offense, a misdemeanor, and driving with .08 of 1 percent or more alcohol in blood, first offense, a misdemeanor, police said.

Bail was set at $500, police said.