ELIZABETH -- Police found an Irvington man who apparently got an early start to his New Year's Eve celebration and fell asleep behind the wheel of his car at the entrance to the Goethals Bridge, authorities said Sunday.

Mathias Estime, 26, was found sleeping in his 2004 Acura in the right lane of the approach to the toll plaza in Staten Island Port Authority of New York and New Jersey when police approached him at 3 a.m. on Saturday, said Joseph Pentangelo, a Port Authority Police Department spokesman.

Pentangelo said Estime had the keys in the ignition and the car was running and in gear.

When police roused him, Estime got out of the car and started to walk away before officers stopped him, Pentangelo said.

He was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, Pentangelo said.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.