Wrong-Way Driver on Summer Street Charged with 7th OUI

A 60-year-old Revere woman who was driving the wrong way on Summer Street Monday evening was arrested and charged with operating under the influence for the seventh time, according to police.

Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan pulled over Brenda Drinkwater in his unmarked cruiser at about 5:30 p.m. Monday. Ryan saw Drinkwater driving the wrong direction on Summer Street, police said. Another man was driving behind Drinkwater repeatedly honking his horn and yelling at her to stop, according to police. Other cars were reportedly being forced off the road by Drinkwater.

When Ryan asked for Drinkwater’s license and registration, she allegedly handed him a credit card and a receipt for a bottle of vodka. Ryan then spotted an empty bottle of vodka on Drinkwater’s passenger seat and smelled liquor on her breath.

Drinkwater was visibly drunk at the scene and “extremely unsteady” on her feet, police said. She was taken into custody after failing a number of field sobriety tests, according to police.

In addition to OUI, Drinkwater was charged with operating negligently as to endanger, drinking from an open container while driving and failure to keep to the right.