By Jim Clark

A Somerville Police officer responded to a reported hit and run incident last week at Florence Street. The owner of the struck vehicle reportedly gave the officer a partial license plate number and a description of the vehicle, and also insisted that it could not have gotten far away due to damage that it must have sustained in the incident.

The officer proceeded down Florence Street in search of the offending driver, and after making a turn onto Washington Street, was flagged down by a group of teenagers who said that they were nearly run down by a reckless driver and pointed out the direction that the vehicle traveled, according to police.
Following up on the information provided, the officer continued along Washington Street and eventually spotted a vehicle parked with its headlights on. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer reportedly recognized the driver as Marie Coady, 61, from previous incidents.
The woman appeared to be highly intoxicated, and damage to the vehicle consistent with the reported side-swiping was visible, according to the officer.
Coady was taken to Somerville Police headquarters where she was offered a Breathalyzer test, which she reportedly refused. She was also offered some field sobriety tests, which she attempted to perform but eventually gave up, saying, “I can’t do this, I’m no good.” police said.
She was booked on charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of property damage.