Crime & Safety

Cops: Driver Slept, Beer in Hand, Gear in Drive

Police found a A 33-year-old man asleep at the wheel, still holding his Corona in one hand, with the car at a stop sign on Old Kings Highway North—while the gear was still in "Drive".

 

Police say they found a 33-year-old man asleep at the wheel with his car stopped at a stop sign on Old Kings Highway North at 1:20 a.m. Monday.

In his left hand, according to police, was the steering wheel; in his right—a partially filled bottle of Corona (see photographic simulation attached to this article).

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Police said the gear was in drive, and the engine was running.

Darien police gave this account of the incident:

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An officer on patrol saw a white Ford Explorer stopped at a stop sign on the street and saw the driver had fallen asleep at the wheel. A strong odor of alcohol came from inside the vehicle.

The officer tried to wake the driver, Roberto Zavaleta of Fair Street in Norwalk, and succeeded only after numerous attempts. Then Zavaleta failed field sobriety tests and was arrested.

Police determined not only that Zavaleta did not have a driver's license with him, but that he didn't possess one at all.

Police charged him with driving while under the influence and operating a motor vehicle without a license.


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