Warwick, RI – Warwick Police arrested and charged a West Greenwich woman with DUI Sept. 4 at 10 p.m. after a caller alerted them the driver had nearly struck a telephone pole twice on West Shore Road.
The caller informed police that she was following a swerving silver 1999 Volkswagen Passat down West Shore Road from Main Avenue to Canfield Avenue as it struck a curb and had two close calls with telephone poles, crossed the white fog line and drifted back into its lane. The driver also appeared to have fallen asleep at a red light during one part of the trip, the caller said.
Officer Nicholas Dinardo responded to the call, catching up to the erratic driver near the intersection of Canfield Avenue and West Shore Road, and pulled the driver over.
Dinardo identified the operator as Mollie Vail, 33, of 740 Victory Highway, West Greenwich. Vail had bloodshot, watery eyes, a red face and neck, and drooping eyelids she appeared barely able to keep open, according to the officer’s report.
Vail told the officer she hadn’t eaten anything that day, but had consumed a mixed alcoholic drink with medication for a back injury, Dinardo reported.
Officer Timothy Tavares arrived at that time, and the two officers helped Vail out of the vehicle. Vail seemed very unsteady on her feet, according to the report.
When asked if she had any injuries that would prevent her from taking sobriety tests, she replied that she had a broken back. However, she told the office she believed she could take the tests.
Vail demonstrated a lack of smooth pursuit in her vision, stepped off line and broke heel-to-toe cadence during the walk-and-turn, and could not stand on one leg without help from the officers.
Dinardo arrested Vail on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, and transported her to Warwick Police Headquarter at 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where she refused to take a chemical blood test.
Vail was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), first offense, blood alcohol unknown, Â and cited for refusing the test.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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