QUEENS — A city school teacher whose blood alcohol level was nearly four times the legal limit was arrested Monday morning in Forest Hills after she hit a parked truck with her car on Queens Boulevard, police said.
This was the second time in recent years that Lauren Barnes, 29, was busted for DWI — in January 2011, she hit another car on Union Turnpike in Hillcrest, police said.
On Monday, Barnes was driving on the Queens Boulevard service road near 69th Avenue around 8:40 a.m. in her 2003 red Honda Accord, when she crashed into a truck that was parked along the road, police said.
When police officers arrived at the scene, they smelled alcohol on Barnes' breath and found a bottle in her car, authorities said.
Officials also said that Barnes had watery and bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.
Barnes was charged with driving while intoxicated and aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, officials said.
The aggravated charge stemmed from her blood alcohol level, which sources said was .31, nearly four times the legal limit.
According to the Department of Education, Barnes began to work as a teacher in September. She was assigned to P.S. 721 Manhattan Occupational Training Center on West Houston Street and was making $48,445.
The 2011 case was sealed and its status was not immediately clear.
