Barbara Lynch Charged With Operating Under the Influence

Chef and restaurateur Barbara Lynch, who runs Boston restaurants Sportello, No. 9 Park, Menton, and others, was charged with an OUI (operating under the influence) after crashing into a parked car early Tuesday morning, the Gloucester Times reports.

According to the report, Lynch told police she had “a few glasses of wine with dinner” earlier in the evening and that she may have fallen asleep at the wheel before the crash. Lynch allegedly failed field sobriety tests administered by police at the scene and registered a blood alcohol content of 0.159 percent (the legal limit in Massachusetts is .08 percent). Both cars were “severely” damaged, and Lynch’s car was towed from the scene, according to police. There were no injuries.

A representative for Lynch, when asked for comment, responded with the following:

Chef Barbara was involved in a car accident early Tuesday morning. There was damage to her car and a parked vehicle, and Chef was shaken up, but no one else was injured. For that, she is extremely grateful however still understandably upset. As details are gathered, we'll be able to provide more information.

Eater will update this post as more information becomes available.

Update, 7/20, 1:55 p.m.: The Boston Globe reports Lynch was released without bail after her arraignment in Gloucester District Court Tuesday and is due back in court August 18.

• Police/Fire: Chef faces drunken driving charge [The Gloucester Times]
• Chef Barbara Lynch released without bail after OUI arrest in Gloucester [Boston Globe]