AUBURN — A marked police vehicle was involved in a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of North Street and Seymour Street on Sept. 13 at approximately 3:49 p.m.
An officer was on routine patrol, traveling southbound on North Street in the outside lane.
A civilian vehicle, operated by Michael Nielens, was traveling northbound on North Street in the inside lane.
Nielens began making a left turn onto Seymour Street in front of oncoming traffic when he collided with the marked patrol vehicle causing air bag deployment in both vehicles.
Auburn Fire and Auburn Ambulance responded.
The officer was later driven to Auburn Community Hospital for medical treatment.
Nielens exited his vehicle after the crash and began walking westbound on Seymour Street when he was told to stay on scene by an officer.
Nielens complied.
Nielens had an odor of alcohol emanating from his person and appeared to be impaired.
Beer and vodka were located inside the vehicle.
Field sobriety tests were conducted.
Nielens failed those tests and then refused to submit to an alcohol-sensor test.
Nielens was placed in custody for driving while intoxicated and transported to police headquarters for further processing.
Once at headquarters, Nielens continued to refuse alcohol testing.
Nielens has a prior DWI conviction making it a felony offense.
Nielens was charged with driving while intoxicated (prior conviction), a Class E felony; open container (alcohol), infraction; unlicensed operator, infraction; and failure to yield right of way, infraction.
