Drunk Driver Nearly Causes Accident at Intersection: Blotter

An Oak Forest man was accused of drinking before driving, and almost driving into an intersection as another vehicle was going through, according to an Orland Park police report.

Nicholas W. Hooten, 19, of the 6500 block of 157th Street in Oak Forest, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level greater than .08, improper lane use and driving without a license.

On Nov. 16, an Orland Park police officer was walking out of a business in the 8100 block of 143rd Street around 3:10 a.m., when he heard a vehicle lock its brakes.  The officer saw a black SUV heading east on 143rd quickly move from the right lane to the left, according to the report. A red car was then seen facing north and partially in the intersection, while the SUV had the green light, and then turned east onto 143rd Street, police said.

The officer followed the red car, and saw it swerving between lane lines and nearly striking a median, before he pulled it over, according to the report.

The driver’s breath smelled like alcohol, he admitted to drinking one beer before driving and slurred his speech, police said.

The driver, Hooten, said he did not have a valid driver’s license and he failed field sobriety tests, according to the report. Hooten also used a Breathalyzer that showed a reading greater than .08 and he was arrested.

Police blotter information is provided by the Orland Park Police Department. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.

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