Drunken, unlicensed driver forces woman off the road

LYNN – After an allegedly drunken Franco Reyes-Lopez caused a fender bender on Essex Street and fled without exchanging information on Tuesday he allegedly drove the victim’s car off the road after she followed him down North Common Street.Reyes-Lopez, 26, of 15 Whittier St., Lynn, was later arrested and charged with operating under the influence of liquor, unlicensed operation of a vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident.The victim, a 24-year-old Lynn woman, told police she was driving on Essex Street near Lynn District Court around 7 p.m. when Reyes-Lopez’s car veered into her lane and struck the side of her vehicle, causing minor damage.But instead of stopping to exchange information, Reyes-Lopez allegedly took off onto Franklin Street.The victim said she followed Reyes-Lopez’ car, constantly flashing her lights and beeping the horn in an attempt to get him to pull over.Police said the suspect then drove onto Hanover Street before turning onto North Common Street, where the two drivers got side by side on the two-lane, one way road.The victim continued to beep at Reyes-Lopez when suddenly he swerved to the right, striking the victim’s 2001 Toyota Camry and causing his 1994 Ford Mustang to spin out and land on a sidewalk at the corner of Mall and North Common streets, police said.The impact caused the victim’s car to crash into a parked car outside 185 North Common St. She and her 21-year-old male passenger from Lynn were transported to Union Hospital with minor injuries.When police arrived, officers found Reyes-Lopez’ shirt drenched in liquid, police said. An officer allegedly found behind the front seat a bottle of Corona beer that was three quarters empty and “cold to the touch, as if it were just opened,” according to a police report. An empty can of Bud Light was also found in the car, police said.Reyes-Lopez was arraigned Wednesday in Lynn District Court where Judge Joseph Jennings released him on personal recognizance. The defendant is due back in court Dec. 19 for a pre-trial hearing.