Hull woman arrested and charged with OUI for the 8th time

HINGHAM, Mass. — Hingham Police arrested a woman they say was operating under the influence of alcohol for the eighth time after she allegedly left the scene of a crash.

A man gave police the license plate of a car he said side swiped a parked car on South Street in Hingham Monday morning.

Moments later, an officer spotted the damaged car  on Summer Street. At first, police said the driver didn’t pull over, but eventually she stopped near the Hingham District Court.

Police said Deborah Letourneau, 52, of Hull, had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and smelled of alcohol, when she stopped. She also allegedly admitted she side swiped the parked car, but denied having had anything to drink.

Police said after Letorneau failed a series of field sobriety tests, and later admitted she had been drinking, but said it was "not much."

Police said when searching Letourneau's vehicle they found a coffee cup and water bottle full of alcohol.

Letourneau was charged with:

• Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol (O.U.I.) 5th or subsequent offense
• Operating After License Suspended for O.U.I.
• Operating to Endanger
• License Suspended for O.U.I. While O.U.I.
• Leaving the Scene After Causing Property Damage
• Driving With Open Container of Alcohol.

According to police, the 5th or subsequent offense is based on seven prior convictions for OUI Alcohol: 2014 in New York, 2010 in Boston, 2004 in Hingham, 2001 in Hingham, 2000 in Holbrook, 1997 in Braintree and 1997 from Massachusetts State Police.

Letourneau's license had been revoked for life in 2010 because of drunk driving.

Letourneau was arraigned on June 20, at Hingham District Court and was ordered held without bail pending a probation violation and a dangerousness hearing to be held on June 26.

Cox Media Group