By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to the intersection of Holland St. and Irving Rd. last week on reports of a motor vehicle accident.

Upon arrival, a group of people standing at the intersection flagged down the officers and stated that the vehicle was on Irving Rd.

Police located the vehicle parked in the wrong direction in front of an Irving Rd. residence. where a small group of people had gathered and were arguing.

The officers approached the group and a woman, identified as Nicole Sandoval, of Everett, who was the owner and operator of the vehicle in question.

After asking her what happened, Sandoval reportedly made several irrelevant statements about owning a business in Davis Square. The officers again asked her what had happened and she again avoided the question, making statements irrelevant to the car accident. They were reportedly unable to get any information from Sandoval at the time.

Police then spoke with a witness who stated that he was eating dinner inside a restaurant on Holland St. when he heard a loud crash occur outside. He exited the restaurant and found that his car has been severely damaged. A crowd of bystanders pointed down the street, to Sandoval’s vehicle, and told him that she had crashed into his car and was attempting to flee.

The witness and two of his friends chased down Sandoval and told her to stop. She came to a brief stop at the corner of Irving Rd., then made a right hand turn there, down a one-way street.

Sandoval again came to a brief stop. At this point the witness and one of his friends stepped in front of Sandoval’s vehicle in an attempt to keep her from fleeing.

Sandoval reportedly put the car in reverse, then drove forward in an attempt to flee down Irving Rd. She drove her vehicle into the witness with enough force to knock him to the ground. Sandoval then reportedly drove around the witness and came to stop on Irving Rd.

Police again spoke with Sandoval and asked her what had happened. She again was unhelpful in her responses and avoided informing them of the sequence of events.

The officers reportedly noticed a strong odor of alcohol on her breath. Sandoval’s eyes were also red and glassy. She was also slurring her words and avoiding answering any questions.

Police then spoke the passenger in Sandoval’s vehicle, who stated that Sandoval was operating her vehicle when she struck a parked car on Holland St. After a brief confrontation, she stopped her car in front of the Irving Rd. location when the police arrived.

Police asked Sandoval if she was willing to take several field sobriety tests and she reportedly agreed. After failing to pass the field sobriety tests, the officers informed Sandoval that she was under arrest on a charge of operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor and taken in for booking.