By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the intersection of Temple and Puritan Roads just after midnight last Wednesday on a report of a motor vehicle accident.

Upon arrival, officers failed to immediately locate any damaged vehicles at the intersection, but after a brief search did locate one nearby.

As officers approached the vehicle they spotted a man, later identified as Andrew Pearson, 33, of North Reading, talking on a cell phone.

When asked if he saw what happened, Pearson reportedly told the officers that he had not, but shortly thereafter said that the vehicle was his.

The car appeared to be badly damaged, with the front end dented and the bumper hanging off, according to reports. Additionally, the hood and grill were bent and the passenger side of the front end had been pushed in and was partly torn away.

Pearson reportedly told the officers that his vehicle had been struck by another car, but he could offer them no description of it. A search of the immediate vicinity turned up no other damaged vehicle, police said.

Pearson eventually told the officers that he had a bit too much to drink and should not be driving, and that he had hit a snow bank while trying to make a turn, according to reports.

The officers on the scene reportedly felt that the damage to the vehicle was too extensive to be explained by hitting the nearby snow.

Pearson then reportedly consented to performing a number of field sobriety tests, which police say he failed.

As police escorted Pearson to his car to retrieve his car keys and ID, he reportedly tripped over a snow bank and fell.

Pearson was placed under arrest and charged with operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor.