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HAZLETON – An allegedly drunk driver nearly drove head-on into an unmarked police vehicle driven by police Chief Jerry Speziale early Saturday morning, according to a police report.

Charges are pending against Silvino Matos Rodrigues, 48.

According to a police report:

Speziale was in an unmarked vehicle on Church Street at approximately 2:15 a.m. Saturday when a white Honda Civic, traveling on the wrong side of the road without its lights on nearly struck Speziale’s vehicle.

The vehicle continued on Church Street to the corner of Church and Fern Streets where it stopped.

Matos Rodrigues submitted to a portable breath test which indicated he had a BAC of .237 percent. The legal limit for a driver in Pennsylvania is .08 percent.

Matos was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital – Hazleton where he submitted to a blood test. He was eventually transported to his residence and released to a family member.

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