By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to the area of Broadway and Lombardi last Friday evening on reports of a motor vehicle accident.

Upon arrival, officers engaged with a man, later identified as Daniel Herrera, who had been involved in the accident. He had reportedly rear ended another motorist.

The officers reportedly noted that Herrera’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy, with a yellow tinge. His eyelids were droopy and he was leaning on his vehicle. It appeared to the officers that he was leaning on the vehicle for support.

While questioning Herrera, the officers noticed that his speech was slurred and, upon getting closer to him, they detected the odor of alcohol.

Herrera was asked if he had been drinking that day and he stated that he had two beers after work.

Based on the officers’ observations, Herrera was asked to perform a course of field sobriety tests, to which he agreed.

These included the horizontal gaze nystagmus, the modified Romberg balance test, the walk and turn, the one leg stand, and the finger to nose test.

In all, the testing officer determined that Herrera was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

He was subsequently placed under arrest and taken to the Police Station and booked on charges of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license and operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor.