BOSTON, Dec. 16, 2013—A Dorchester woman was driving with a blood-alcohol level more than three times the legal limit when she struck and severely injured a Boston man near the JFK/UMass MBTA station, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said today.

KATHLEEN ABBAN (D.O.B. 1/10/74) was arraigned in Dorchester District Court today for the collision last night on Old Colony Avenue beneath the Columbia Road overpass. She was charged with operating under the influence as a second offense, operating under the influence causing serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of an accident causing personal injury, leaving the scene of an accident causing property damage, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Brodigan recommended that she be held on $500,000 cash bail, along with orders that she remain alcohol-free and submit to random testing if she posts that amount. Judge James Coffey granted those requests.

Brodigan told the court that State Police from the South Boston barracks were on patrol last night when they received a call for a pedestrian struck. On arrival, they found the victim, a 68-year-old resident of Chinatown, suffering from serious injuries. He began losing consciousness as troopers spoke to him. Boston Emergency Medical Services rushed him to Boston Medical Center, where he remains in intensive care.

A civilian witness came forward to share his observations. One told troopers that that a black SUV travelling at about 35 miles per hour struck the victim in the street, sending him flying into the air. The witness said the SUV continued without stopping, then struck a guardrail so hard that it had to back up to disengage from it. The SUV then continued on toward JFK/UMass station.

Additional troopers stopped an SUV matching the suspect vehicle description and brought the operator, later identified as Abban, back to the scene. She allegedly reeked of alcohol and gave a series of incriminating statements, including statements that she’d had “way too many” drinks at a bar in South Boston.

Abban allegedly failed a series of field sobriety tests, getting no further than F in reciting the alphabet and being unable to stand on one leg or walk a straight line. At the barracks, she blew a .25 on a Breathalyzer. The legal limit for driving is a .08.

Abban was represented by attorney Alex Welch. She will return to court on Jan. 17, 2014.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.