REHOBOTH - A Rehoboth police officer escaped injury after a car with four alleged underage drinkers nearly struck his cruiser head-on on Route 44 near the Palmer River Elementary School early Sunday.

Patrolman Keith Perry evaded the black 1999 Mitsubishi to avoid a collision, turned around and stopped it on Route 44 just east of Route 118, where he and Patrolman Craig Warish arrested the youths at 2:22 a.m., Police Chief Stephen Enos said.

Charged with possession of alcohol by a person under 21 were the driver, Ashley Tibbetts, 19, of Bridgewater, as well as the three Taunton teenagers riding with her: Cory J. Hardy, 18, of 250 Nichols Drive; Robert M. Boucher, 18, of 81 Fisher St.; and Ashley Bolieiro, 18, of 265 Longmeadow Road.

Police also charged Tibbetts with a marked lanes violation, and speeding.

The four youths were released on $40 cash bail. They face arraignment today in Taunton District Court.