Fairfield Man Charged With DUI After Rollover

[Editor's Note: Arrest information is supplied by the . It does not indicate convictions.]

A Fairfield man was charged with driving under the influence after his van struck a parked car and flipped onto its side on Melville Avenue late Tuesday, police said.

Clifton Allen, 37, of Garden Drive was reportedly driving west on Melville Drive when his van struck an unoccupied vehicle parked on the side of the road, police said. The parked vehicle traveled approximately 50 feet upon impact, struck a fire hydrant, and came to rest in the front yard of 248 Melville Drive, police said.

Allen’s van rolled over onto the driver’s side upon impact and also traveled another 50 feet, coming to rest in the street in front of 248 Melville Drive, according to the police report.

Responding officers assisted Allen out of the van, department spokesperson Sgt. Sue Lussier said. Police reported detecting the odor of alcohol on Allen’s breath and, after he was deemed uninjured by medics, asked him to perform field sobriety tests, which he failed, Lussier said.

Police also seized as evidence an empty glass bottle from an alcoholic beverage from Allen’s car, according to Lussier.

Allen reportedly told police that the parked car had pulled out in front of him and he had no choice but to run into it, according to the report. Investigators confirmed that the vehicle had been parked and unoccupied.

Allen was transported to headquarters and charged with DUI and operating a motor vehicle without insurance, police said. He posted a $100 bond and was released to a friend.

Allen is due in court on April 3.