Lynn drunken driver strikes pedestrian, flattens two tires

LYNN – A Lynn driver who allegedly struck a pedestrian Saturday before backing over a River Street sidewalk and flattening two tires was arraigned on drunken driving charges Monday.George Manuel, 60, of 187 Washington St., was arrested after the 10:40 p.m. accident and charged with operating under the influence of alcohol (second offense).A 51-year-old Saugus man said he was walking when suddenly Manuel’s 1986 Toyota Cressida jumped the sidewalk and struck him in the right leg, police said. The victim placed his hands on the windshield and jumped out of the way to avoid further injury.The victim said the suspect then placed the car in reverse, backed across the street and over the opposite sidewalk before crashing over a set of parking barriers, causing two tires to become flattened.When police arrived officers found Manuel “swaying back and forth” next to his car with a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and glossy eyes, according to a police report.Police performed a field sobriety test and said when Manuel was asked to recite the alphabet, he couldn’t get past the letter “G.”