Police arrested a 55-year-old Rye Brook man on two felony Driving While Intoxicated charges after he crossed the double-yellow line and hit a car heading in the opposite direction on Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m., Police Lt. James Ladeairous said. The two passengers in the car that the driver hit were 78 and 85 years old and both complained of pain. EMS transported them to Greenwich hospital.
When police arrived on the scene they found the alleged drunk driver, James Barrett, unresponsive, slumped over into the passenger seat of his van with the keys in ignition, motor running and car still in drive. He did not wake up to open the door so police had to break in his window.
Barrett could not stand, Ladeairous said. When asked if he had been drinking, Barrett said “yes,” police report.
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“When asked ‘how much,’ he said ‘a lot,’” according Ladeairous.
Barrett was charged with DWI, a felony because he was convicted of DWI last year; Aggravated DWI, a felony because his blood alcohol content was above .18; and failure to keep right, police report.
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