Charge: DWI, fled crash

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

A Jersey City man has been charged with drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident after the driver of the car he struck followed him until police arrived and arrested him, officials said.

Roberto M. Rodriguez-Vas, 34, of the 300 block of Palisade Avenue, was arrested at 1:01 a.m. Saturday, reports said.

A 23-year-old Nelson Avenue woman said she was driving on Palisade Avenue near Wood Place when Rodriguez-Vas took a wide turn, struck her vehicle and kept going, reports said.

She followed Rodriguez-Vas' Jeep Grand Cherokee, dialed 911 and when the patrol car arrived she pointed out where Rodriguez-Vas had parked, reports said.

The officers found Rodriguez-Vas inside the Jeep and said he seemed intoxicated and his breath "smelled of a sweet alcoholic beverage," reports said.

Rodriguez-Vas was later given a Breathalyzer test and was found to have a blood alcohol level of .14, reports said. The state's legal limit is .08.

MICHAELANGELO CONTE