Lambert Lind Highway Crash Prompts DUI Arrest

WARWICK, RI — On June 10 at 1:13 a.m., Warwick officers arrested a driver in a Lambert Lind Highway crash on  on a DUI charge after he told them his car insurance was with Blue Cross Blue Shield, then failed sobriety tests.

According to the police report of the arrest, Officers David Gaulin and Michael Rosa were called to 205 Lambert Lind Highway for a report of a crash involving a blue 2014 Chevy Malibu that had struck another car. with no injuries reported. Gaulin identified the driver of the striking car as Ryan Yankee, 24, of 5 Cady St., Johnston, RI.

As he spoke with Yankee, Gaulin noted his breath smelled of alcohol, his eyes were bloodshot and his demeanor seemed disoriented in general. After asking for Yankee’s proof of car insurance, the man returned from his car several times with documents which were not his insurance proof. When Gaulin asked what insurance company he had, according to the report, Yankee replied that it was Blue Cross Blue Shield, which provides health insurance, not car insurance.

Gaulin asked Yankee to perform sobriety tests, during which the driver demonstrated a lack of smooth pursuit in his vision; was unable to walk a straight line as instructed, stepping off-line, stepping the wrong number of steps and using his hands for balance; and initially had trouble balancing on one foot, eventually achieving the feat for six and five seconds on successive attempts.

Gaulin arrested Yankee on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, and transported him to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, Warwick, where he refused to submit to a breath test of his blood alcohol level. Gaulin charged Yankee with DUI, blood alcohol unknown, first offense, and was cited for refusing the test and failing to maintain proper distance from other drivers.