Bristol Police arrested a young man after he allegedly got into an accident near the entrance to Mount Hope Farm and left the scene, before officers caught up to him near the base of the Mt. Hope Bridge.

Officer Tyler Carreiro was dispatched at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, following a three-car accident. Witnesses said the silver Toyota that caused the accident had left the scene and headed south on Metacom.

Officer Carreiro said in his report that he found the suspect vehicle’s bumper in a parking lot just north of the bridge. He then reportedly saw the heavily damaged Toyota with its hazards lights flashing drive past him, stop just short of the bridge, attempt a U-turn and hold up traffic in both directions while trying to navigate the U-turn. The officer then pulled the car over on Ferry Road.

According to the officer’s report, the driver appeared confused, had difficulty speaking and moved very slowly and methodically. Inside the vehicle, the officer observed numerous Fireball “nips” (there ended up being 10), a rolled-up dollar bill, a clear plastic baggie with a green pill inside, a glass marijuana smoking pipe and a plastic toy gun smoking pipe. The driver allegedly admitted to the officer that he had smoked marijuana earlier in the evening, but he denied drinking alcohol. In a grassy area beside the car, the officer conducted a field sobriety test, which the suspect failed.

Taken back to the station, Cayden F. Rivera, 23, of North Dartmouth, Mass., was questioned further. He allegedly admitting to drinking Fireballs and told the officer he thought he was in Westport. Officer Medeiros determined the pill was Alprazolam, a Schedule IV narcotic. Mr. Rivera was charged with DUI, possession of a Schedule IV narcotic, and Duty to Stop-accident resulting. He was arraigned at the station and released at about 1 a.m.