Long-awaited Building 19 drunk driving trial to begin in January

SALEM – The long-awaited trial of a 76-year-old Lynn man who crashed his vehicle into a snack stand outside Building 19 in 2005, pinning a woman against the building while allegedly driving drunk, has been delayed until mid-January.Edward Salie, who lives with his grandson at 94 Western Ave., faces charges of operating a motor vehicle while drunk, third offense; operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level at .08 or above, third offense; aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of operating a motor vehicle negligently while under the influence of alcohol and causing serious bodily injury – charges he has denied.On the afternoon of Aug. 1, 2005, Salie struck a sausage stand in the parking lot of Building 19 at 810 Lynnway in an Oldsmobile, pinning the table and Paula Monteleone, 65, of Winthrop, against the building.Monteleone was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for severe injuries to her legs.Assistant District Attorney Michael J. Sheehan maintains that Salie was drunk at the time of the accident. Police said they could smell alcohol on his breath when being questioned by them.But Salie, represented by William J. O?Hare of Salem, maintains he lost control of his vehicle and that he had not consumed alcohol that day.O?Hare is expected to challenge the state crime blood analysis and the chain of custody involving the blood sample taken at trial.The case has been lingering for some time due to the blood analysis and legal technicalities. It was expected to go on trial next week, but the commonwealth informed Salem Superior Court Judge David A. Lowy that a key state crime lab witness was unavailable and the trial needed to be continued.Thursday morning Lowy agreed to continue the expected four-day trial to mid-January.In the meantime, remains under house arrest only to leave the home for court and medical appointments.