Police: Hit-and-run suspect had small child in car, BAC 3x legal limit

Joseph Rivera (Courtesy: Lincoln Police Department)

LINCOLN, R.I. (WPRI) — Police say a Cumberland man believed to be involved in a hit-and-run accident Friday morning was caught driving under the influence with his 3-year-old daughter in the back seat.

Joseph Rivera, 28, was arrested shortly after an officer stopped him on Old River Road in Lincoln on suspicion of fleeing following a crash near I-295 in Massachusetts.

Police said the officer noticed Rivera’s eyes were bloodshot and his car smelled of alcohol. According to police, the officer also found an open Nip bottle of rum near the driver’s seat.

Rivera was taken into custody after failing several field sobriety tests. Police said a breathalyzer test showed his blood alcohol content was 0.303, nearly four times the legal limit.

His daughter was uninjured and was eventually picked up by her mother, police added.

Rivera, whose license was immediately revoked, is charged with driving under the influence and endangering children. He was held on $3,500 bail until his next court date, scheduled for Aug. 28.