Three arrested for drunken driving over holiday weekend

LYNN – Labor Day weekend typically brings a spike of drunken driving arrests throughout the United States and the city of Lynn was no exception this year.Three of the four arrests involved unlicensed drivers who were literally drinking beer and driving at the same time.Included in that group is Alejandro Lopez, 37, of 10 Jones Terrace, Lynn, who was arrested after a tow truck driver followed him as he wove his Toyota Tacoma up Broad Street, police said.The witness, David Texiera, 49, told police Lopez was “obviously intoxicated” and staggering around Newhall Street starting arguments with people before he hopped into his truck, according to a police report.Police allegedly found numerous empty beer cans strewn about Lopez’ vehicle when an officer pulled him over near Lewis Street. There were also eight full, cold Bud Light cans in the vehicle, police said.Solis Eliseo, 23, of 71 Woodman St., Lynn, was arrested after police allegedly found a half-full bottle of Corona in the center console and two empty bottles on the floor of his car, police said.Eliseo was pulled over by Officer Paul Wonoski after he was observed swerving over the double-yellow line on Western Avenue “three times in about 500 yards,” according to a police report.Both Eliseo and Lopez were unable to produce valid licenses when they were pulled over.Amilcar Lopez, 21, of Lynn, was arrested Monday for OUI and unlicensed operation after police found his infant child in the back seat. He allegedly urinated on himself in a police car. See the full story on page A3.Cesar Jimenez, 22, of 17 Court St., Lynn, was arrested after his car blew through a red light at the corner of Washington and Boston streets around 2 a.m. Monday.Sgt. Christopher Kelly, who was traveling westbound on Washington Street when he saw the blatant violation, activated his lights and pulled onto Boston Street when he allegedly saw Jimenez drive through another “solid red light at a very high rate of speed” at the intersection of Franklin Street after illegally passing another vehicle on the left.When asked why he had been driving so fast, Jimenez answered, “He could not stop for the lights due to (a) flat tire,” according to a police report.Jimenez allegedly told police his tire went flat so he didn’t want to stop his Honda Accord. Police said the rear tire was flat.When asked if he had been drinking, Jimenez allegedly answered, “One beer and one shot.” His blood alcohol level was about .15, which is above the .08 legal limit, according to police.Nationally, the Labor Day holiday weekend is one of the deadliest for drunken driving accidents. About 39 percent of fatal Labor Day accidents are attributed to operators under the influence, while only 30 percent of accidents during the rest of the year are caused by drunken drivers, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.