Winthrop Man Faces OUI and Driving to Endanger Charges

A Winthrop man is due back in Lynn District Court next month on charges that he was driving under the influence of alcohol, driving to endanger and in possession of methadone.

Salvatore Lamattina, 44, of 80 Somerset Ave. Winthrop, was arrested April 25, and arraigned the next day. He was released on personal recognizance bail.

On April 25, about 6:15 pm, police responded to a report of a pick-up hitting a utility pole near 88 Stetson Ave., according to the court report.

Aofficer noted the pick-up had apparently crossed the road and struck the pole, the court report states. Lamattina was also cited for a marked lanes violation.

The pick-up's front driver's-side tire and suspension were knocked from the vehicle, the report states.

The driver, who was out of the vehicle, appeared unsteady on his feet, and claimed the wheel had come off as he was driving, police said.

The skid marks in the road, however, appeared to indicate that the tire and suspension were separated from the pick-up upon hitting the pole, police said.

The driver told police he had taken medication, Suboxone, earlier in the day for a leg injury.

The driver failed field sobriety tests and blew a .066 on a portable breath test.

In Massachusetts, 0.08 is the legal limit. It is illegal to drive with an open container of alcohol in a vehicle.

In the pick-up police found a cold six pack of beer, with three of the containers empty, the court record states.

Police also found four white pills, later identified as methadone, on the center console, the report states.

The Winthrop man is due back in Lynn Distirct Court on June 5, for a pretrial hearing.