Man Bounces Pillar to Post at Wawa

You can do a lot of things at Wawa along Route 100 in Lower Macungie Township.

Drop by for a newspaper, gasoline or coffee? Absolutely. A sandwich? Sure. Withdraw cash from the automated teller machine? Yup, that too.

Like to play games? Lottery tickets are on sale.

Play pinball? Well . . . not usually. But, maybe not all visitors to the store know that, at least one of them didn't seem to be aware in the overnight hours of May 1.

The scene in the parking lot might have suggested a life-size game of pinball as an alleged drunken driver smashed his car into one protective post . . . then another . . . and yet another.

Trouble began at 3:12 a.m. for Jarret A. Rivera, 21, of Macungie, who was parked in a space near the store, according to . Rivera attempted to leave the space, but drove forward into a post intended to protect pedestrians and property in the event of such a mishap. The vehicle's fender and hood were damaged.

Rivera's Honda CRV next traveled in reverse about 30 feet away, according to police, this time striking a similar post and damaging the driver's side doors.

After the second impact, the car traveled 10 more feet before hitting a curb with the driver's rear side tire, police said. The car mounted the curb and struck the third post with its rear fender.

Rivera was uninjured, police said; however, the same could not be said for his car. That was towed from the scene.

The commotion also brought police from Macungie and Alburtis.

State police said Rivera was tested at the scene for intoxication after exhibiting signs of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was taken to Central Booking in Allentown to provide a blood sample, but test results are not yet available. DUI charges are pending but have not been filed, police said.