Drunk Driver Hits Mailbox, Crosswalk Sign: Cops

EAST HAMPTON, NY — An East Hampton man was arrested after he drove drunk and hit both a crosswalk and mailbox recently, police said.

According to East Hampton Town Police, Walter R. Mejialopez, 26, was arrested on Dec. 23 at 12:12 a.m. when he was seen driving a 2005 gold Ford south on Springs Fireplace Road near Gardiners Avenue and failing to maintain his lane by crossing over the pavement markings and striking an orange crosswalk sign.

When an officer tried to stop him with lights and sirens, Mejialopez's vehicle left the roadway, striking a mailbox with his passenger side mirror, police said.

Upon investigation, Mejialopez was found to have the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, bloodshot, glassy eyes, and slurred speech; he was also unsteady on his feet and performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests, police said.

He was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle with .08 of 1% alcohol or more in blood, first offense, a misdemeanor, and driving while intoxicated, first offense, also a misdemeanor, and released on his own recognizance, police said.