Woman Busted for DWI after Fleeing Accident Scene in Somers Point, NJ

Around 2:58 AM on December 8, 2022, officers with the Somers Point Police Department were dispatched to the area of Groveland Avenue and Franklin Drive with a report of a possible hit-and-run accident. The officers found a blue 2021 Honda Civic with significant damages that was unoccupied. Sergeant John Conover and Patrolman Daniel Bryan began investigating the Honda Civic, and a check of the license plate revealed that it was registered under Lianna Graniglia. Patrolman Leroy Gandy was also able to locate a damaged Honda Element in a parking lot, which matched the witness description of the other vehicle reported by the witness. Based on the information gathered in their investigation, the officers decided to search for the other suspects in the accident by visiting the apartment building of the registered owner.

As the officers approached the apartment, they initially made contact with Lianna’s boyfriend. As they entered the unit and made contact with Lianna, she immediately admitted to causing the accident and being under the influence. Since the officers detected the odor of alcohol and Lianna’s eyes were bloodshot and watery, they asked her to exit the apartment so they could administer field sobriety tests outside.

Sergeant Conover started with the recitation of the alphabet from “A” to “Z,” and Lianna failed to recite the alphabet in the correct sequence. The second field sobriety exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Lianna failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and displayed a lack of balance. The third field sobriety exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During this exercise, Lianna did not touch heel-to-toe on every step and took 10 steps in both direction instead of the 9 she had been instructed to take. The last field sobriety exercise was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, but Sergeant Conover was unable to get an accurate reading on this test because Lianna kept closing her eyes.

Based on her the witness statement from the caller, Lianna’s admission to being under the influence, and her inability to adequately complete the field sobriety exercises, Sergeant Conover placed Lianna under arrest for driving under the influence. Her vehicle was impounded for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law and Lianna was transported to the Somers Point Police Department for further processing. At police HQ, the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators was read to Lianna and she agreed to submit breath samples.

Sergeant Conover administered the Alcotest machine after Lianna agreed to submit breath samples for testing. Her Alcotest results indicated a BAC of 0.15%, which is nearly double the legal limit of 0.08%. Once the officers were finished with processing Lianna, she was placed in a cell for 7 hours and 20 minutes before she was released pending her court appearance. Sergeant Conover issued her the following summonses: Operating under the influence, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident, and 5 additional citations for failure to exhibit the appropriate documents (license, registration, and insurance).

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