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WPD Charges Driver with DUI After Crash

The Warwick Police Department is located at 99 Veterans Memorial Drive.
The Warwick Police Department is located at 99 Veterans Memorial Drive.
The Warwick Police Department is located at 99 Veterans Memorial Drive.

Warwick, RI – A car crash between a blue 2011 Hyundai Elantra that reportedly sideswiped a green 1993 Ford truck at the intersection of Greenwich and Main Avenues Sept. 19 resulted in a DUI charge for the Hyundai driver.

Officer Thomas Duncan arrived at the scene of the crash at 1:21 a.m., and spoke with the driver of the truck, who said the Hyundai had sidesswiped him as he turned left from Greenwich Avenue onto Main Avenue, according to his report.

The officer noted heavy passenger-side damage to the truck, from front to back. He contacted AAA, which arrived and towed the truck away.

The operator of the Elantra, identified as Joanne Talbot, 47, of 400 Warner Brook Drive, apt. 7302, told Duncan that she had drank as many as six mixed drinks that  evening at Mardi Gras in Cranston, and had been heading home at the time of the crash, according to the report.

Duncan also noted Talbot had bloodshot, watery eyes, red blotches on her face, extremely slurred speech and her breath smelled strongly of alcohol. Given these observations, the officer asked her to take a round of sobriety tests, which she agreed to do.

Talbot did not fare well on the tests, according to the report. She displayed a lack of smooth pursuit in her vision, missed heel-to-toe cadence on every step of the walk-and-turn, and was unable to balance on one foot during the one-leg-stand.

Duncan arrested Talbot and transported her to Warwick Police Headquarters, where she was processed and given a breath alcohol test, registering a results of .201 and .207. blood alcohol content.

Duncan charged Talbot with DUI, first offense, .15 or greater, and also issued a violation for failing to obey roadway lanes.

Rob Borkowski
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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