Drunk driver rams occupied car on Hope Street: Police

Driver allegedly registers a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit

By Patrick Luce
Posted 7/26/16

A couple visiting Bristol over the weekend hadn’t even gotten out of their car when their visit was cut short by an alleged drunk driver.

The couple parked at Hope and Church streets Sunday …

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Drunk driver rams occupied car on Hope Street: Police

Driver allegedly registers a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit

Posted

A couple visiting Bristol over the weekend hadn’t even gotten out of their car when their visit was cut short by an alleged drunk driver.

The couple parked at Hope and Church streets Sunday afternoon and were sitting in the car planning their day when they were rocked from behind by a yellow Jeep that destroyed the back end of their car. The couple was not seriously injured, but their car was not drivable and had to be towed away, according to police reports.

Officers arrived at the scene just before 3:30 p.m. to find Frank T. Faria, 33, of 34 Locust St., Riverside, sitting behind the wheel of the yellow Jeep with his dog, which was uninjured in the crash. Officers immediately noticed his red face, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech when they first began talking to him, according to reports. Mr. Faria insisted he had not been drinking that day, though officers reported the strong odor of alcohol emanating from the car, reports indicate.

Mr. Faria agreed to a field sobriety test on the sidewalk on Hope Street, reportedly failing all three. He was unable to keep his head straight while tracking an officer’s moving finger with his eye, broke heel-to-toe contact several times during the “walk-and-turn” test, and was unable to keep his balance during the analog stand test, according to reports.

Officers arrested Mr. Faria and brought him to the Bristol Police station, where he consented to a Breathalyzer test, allegedly registering a blood alcohol content of more than .22, nearly triple the legal limit of .08. Just before the test, Mr. Faria reportedly admitted to drinking four beers in about two and a half hours while he was on a boat. He then immediately contradicted himself, telling police he was not under the influence of alcohol.

Mr. Faria was charged with driving under the influence .15 or greater, as well as land roadway violations and following too close. He was due to be arraigned in 6th District Court Wednesday. Bristol Animal Control took custody of his dog at the scene of the accident.

Bristol Police, DUI, drunk driving

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