Newport Man Towing A Forklift Charged With DUI In South Kingstown

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI — A Newport man was arrested Friday after South Kingstown police said he towed a forklift with his truck while under the influence of alcohol.

Daniel Pinheiro, 32, was charged with DUI of liquor or drugs and refusal to submit to a chemical test.

Around 8:20 p.m., officers pulled over a truck towing a flatbed trailer with a forklift on Route 138 eastbound, because the operator was driving erratically, according to South Kingstown police. Police said the driver, later identified as Pinheiro, crossed the center line into the oncoming traffic lane several times. Pinheiro also briefly drove on the right grass shoulder, according to police.

Police said they pulled over Pinheiro, who told officers he was returning from a job in Connecticut. Officers detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Pinheiro when he spoke, police said.

Pinheiro was then arrested and held overnight. He was arraigned Monday in Washington County District Court in Wakefield.

"Drinking and driving is always a bad choice, but consuming alcohol or drugs and then towing heavy equipment is incredibly reckless," South Kingstown Police Chief Matthew Moynihan said. "I am thankful to the other officers who spotted this driver and immediately took him off the road."

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