Cops: DWI driver fell asleep
A Queens Village woman who rammed her car into a concrete barrier on the Northern State Parkway in Melville Sunday faces a felony DWI charge, State Police said.
Troopers responded to a call for a one-car accident on the parkway at about 3:05 p.m. and found Catherine Loftus, 51, asleep in a disabled Nissan Altima in the eastbound lanes near Route 110, police said.
Loftus' car had struck the concrete barrier in the right shoulder of the parkway, police said.
Troopers noticed the driver "had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath, bloodshot watery eyes and slurred speech," according a news release.
Loftus told troopers she had just one glass of wine but it was the size of "a fish bowl," the release said.
Loftus failed sobriety tests and faces a DWI charge. She also provided a breath-analyzer reading of .18 percent, police said.
Loftus was charged with felony DWI because she has had a previous conviction within the last 10 years, police said, and had traffic violations.
She was scheduled to be arraigned Monday at First District Court in Central Islip.
Sarra Sounds Off Ep. 35: EI baseball, girls lacrosse and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse.
Sarra Sounds Off Ep. 35: EI baseball, girls lacrosse and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse.
