Deputy sheriffs from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office arrested an East Patchogue woman for driving under the influence after she allegedly drove someone else’s car by accident.
On August 1 at approximately 2:50 a.m., deputy sheriffs observed a gray 2020 Mazda CX-5 traveling on Waverly Avenue in Patchogue at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was also observed traveling on the shoulder of the roadway and failing to maintain its lane.
During the traffic stop, deputies observed that Ariel Salgado allegedly had slurred speech, exhibited signs of impairment, and had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath. She also allegedly performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest.
During the investigation, deputies learned that the Mazda Salgado had allegedly been driving had been reported stolen. Investigators determined that Salgado had allegedly mistakenly entered and driven away in another person’s vehicle after leaving a nearby bar. The vehicle’s owner had inadvertently left the key fob inside the vehicle, and Salgado’s own vehicle was the same make, model, and similar color and had been parked nearby.
Once the mistake was discovered, the vehicle was returned to its rightful owner, who declined to pursue criminal charges related to the incident.
“Our deputy sheriffs remain vigilant in identifying and removing impaired drivers from our roadways before they can cause serious harm,” said Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “This incident also serves as a reminder to never leave your keys or key fob inside your vehicle, even for a short time.”