Chef Barbara Lynch arrested on drunken driving charge after crash in Gloucester
Barbara Lynch, the Southie native-turned-nationally acclaimed chef, was arrested on a drunken driving charge in Gloucester early Tuesday morning after she was involved in a car crash, the Gloucester Times first reported.
According to the Times, Gloucester police say Lynch’s car crashed into the rear of a parked truck at 4:34 a.m. Lynch reportedly told police that she had “a few glasses of wine with dinner” and may have fallen asleep at the wheel before the crash. According to the police report, Lynch — who said she was driving back from work in Boston to her home in the seaside village of Annisquam — blew a blood-alcohol content of 0.159 in a breath test at the scene, the Times reported.
Kate Gardiner, a spokeswoman for Lynch, confirmed the crash to Boston.com and did not contest the accuracy of the Times report.
“There was damage to her car and a parked vehicle, and Chef was shaken up, but no one else was injured,” Gardiner said in a statement Wednesday evening. “For that, she is extremely grateful however still understandably upset.”
Gardiner added that more information would be available “as details are gathered.”
According to the Times, police said both vehicles were severely damaged and Lynch’s car had to be towed from the scene. The chef was also reportedly charged with failing to stay within marked lanes.
