Photo by James Short.
The man was described by police as looked 'disheveled' and with his pant's zipper down, reports noted.
Ambler Borough Police responded to an accident in July as a vehicle was discovered driving up onto a sidewalk, according to reports. The driver would later be found to have a blood alcohol level of .242%, police said.
Juan Benjamin Hernandez, 28, of the 200 block of Bannockburn Avenue, in Ambler, was found to be the driver of a vehicle reported to police on July 12 around 6:38 p.m. in the areas of East Park Avenue and South Spring Garden Street, according to reports. Police said that a caller had reported a vehicle striking a parked vehicle in the area.
Ambler Police reported that, upon arrival, they witnessed Hernandez as the operator, whose car hit a parked car, went off of the roadway, up onto the sidewalk, and was resting, straddling two properties in the 200 block of East Park Avenue.
Hernandez did not report any injuries, according to police, and told police that while he was attempting to park, he “hit the accelerator instead of the break.”
Hernandez did not speak nor understand English, and Ambler Police requested back-up from Upper Dublin Township Police Department, who had an officer assist in translating.
Police said they detected an odor of alcohol coming from Hernandez and that he was off-balanced while standing. Additionally, police reports noted that Hernandez’s eyes were glassy, his pants zipper was down, and he “appeared disheveled.”
Via the translator, police asked Hernandez how many drink he had consumed that day, and he reportedly said three Modelo beers. He was then subjected, according to reports, to multiple standardized field sobriety tests, which he complied with, but did not satisfactorily complete. Police determined he was unfit to operate a vehicle, and Hernandez was taking into custody at 7:12 p.m. July 12, police said.
A tow truck was called to remove Hernandez’s vehicle from the sidewalk and adjoining residential yards. After submitting to chemical blood tests, Hernandez provided a blood draw sample at Suburban Hospital, and then was transported back to his home and released, police said.
Lab testing revealed that Hernandez had a blood alcohol level of 0.242%, according to police reports. Hernandez is charged with two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence, one at the highest rate of alcohol BAC of .16 or more, and the other being general incapability of driving safely. He is also charged with counts of driving without a license, careless driving, and driving on a sidewalk.
Hernandez is to appear before Magisterial District Judge Douglas H. Lavenberg on Oct. 4 at 11:30 a.m. for a preliminary hearing.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
