Carlos Zabala-Merino of East Hampton was driving a 2007 Chrysler minivan south on Springs-Fireplace Road near Abraham’s Path in East Hampton on Feb. 5 when he was involved in a crash with two northbound cars. The incident led to his arrest.
According to a police report, Mr. Zabala-Merino, 55, left the scene of the accident, but was later tracked down in the parking lot of a pizzeria at 281 Springs-Fireplace Road. There, police said, they saw signs that he had been driving under the influence of alcohol. He was charged with first-offense driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, and, after taking a breath test, was also charged with driving with a blood-alcohol content of .08 of 1 percent or more, another misdemeanor.
Justice Lisa R. Rana arraigned Mr. Zabala-Merino in East Hampton Town Justice Court the next day and released him on his own recognizance.