American Idol finalist Stefano Langone was reportedly arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol in 2010.
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Lagone's DUI arrest reportedly began when he pulled over by a police officer for changing lanes without signaling and speeding. However, the 22-year-old from Kent, WA then failed multiple field sobriety tests -- one of which required him to recite the alphabet -- and registered above Washington State's legal alcohol on a preliminary test limit.
Police then arrested Langone, whom Idol judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler selected as a "Wild Card" finalist following the season's semifinal round and subsequently survived last week's first finals round.
"While en route [to WSP headquarters], Langone began singing," the trooper said in his report obtained by Star.
Last month's broadcast of American Idol's San Francisco auditions had featured Langone and his parents discussing the 2009 accident in which he was seriously injured by a drunk driver but made no mention of his own subsequent arrest on a similar charge.
"May 28, 2009, my life took a 180-degree turn. I was in an accident that changed my life unfortunately for the worst. I woke up to a firefighter and I'll never forget -- he looked down at me and he screamed to the EMTs, 'He's alive! He's alive!'" said Langone about the accident which reportedly left him with two broken arms, a fractured pelvis and several other injuries.
"They told me that I wouldn't either walk the same, be able to walk right, or be the same, and I got on my feet in less than four months. Living through that and being in a wheelchair and not being able to play my piano -- that just makes you so much hungrier -- and that flame in you that says, 'I want this,' It burns more than anything."
Langone's father Ernie Langone said his son's recovery was a miraculous triumph.
"When we got there, the medics told us that when they pulled up, they thought he was dead, but we got through it," he added.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
