21-Year-Old With Broken Fingernail Arrested for DWI After Crashing Into Uber Driver

Around 1:11 AM PM on June 10, 2023, Officer Mark Santiago with the North Wildwood Police Department responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash at the Wawa on 330 W Spruce Avenue. He first made contact with the Uber driver whose car was allegedly struck by a 21-year-old woman driving a 2014 Subaru Legacy. The Uber driver informed Officer Santiago that the driver of the Subaru Legacy allegedly grazed his door with her passenger side mirror, and he observed damages to the other driver’s mirror consistent with this description.

He also told Officer Santiago that the other driver became physically aggressive towards him after the motor vehicle accident, and that would later be confirmed by reviewing a cell phone video that was filmed by a witness. The driver of the Subaru was identified as 21-year-old Alyssa, and she also mentioned that she had a broken fingernail. Alyssa said that she was coming from Exit 6, a bar in North Wildwood, and she also admitted to being under the influence of alcohol. The other officers continued to interview the Uber driver, and Officer Santiago began his DWI investigation. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Officer Santiago asked Alyssa to perform field sobriety exercises.

Alyssa was first asked to recite the alphabet from “C” to “Y,” but she did not recite it in the correct sequence. She was then asked to count backwards from 50 to 38, and she was able to do so satisfactorily. The finger dexterity test was not performed because of the apparent injury to her fingernail. The third exercise was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Officer Santiago observed the lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. He also observed vertical gaze nystagmus in both eyes. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Alyssa failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step and did not keep her arms at her sides. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Alyssa failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and failed to count in the correct sequence.

Based on the motor vehicle accident, the odor of alcohol on her person, her admission to consuming alcohol, and her inability to adequately complete the field sobriety exercises, Officer Santiago placed Alyssa under arrest for driving under the influence. A search of her vehicle revealed the presence of an open container. Her vehicle was impounded for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law. She was transported by Officer Santiago to the North Wildwood Police Department for further processing.

At police HQ, Alyssa was searched by Officer Gonzalez and evaluated by first responders. Officer Santiago then read her the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators and she agreed to submit breath samples for testing. Her Alcotest results indicated a BAC of 0.19%, which was more than double the legal limit of 0.08% for drivers over 21. After they were finished with processing her, she was released to a sober adult after she signed the Potential Liability Warning Form on Alyssa’s behalf. She was issued the following traffic tickets: Operating under the influence and careless driving

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