WESTFIELD – An alleged drunk driver nearly ran a car off the road before crashing his vehicle and landing in a stream.
According to police, Stephen M. Galvin, 49, first rear-ended Ronald Baldwin’s 2007 Dodge Dakota near 507 Southampton Road.
Baldwin phoned police shortly before 10 p.m. Thursday night to say that a 2002 Ford was behind him on Southampton Road, struck his vehicle and continued to pass him on the right, using the shoulder of the roadway.
Next, Baldwin said he witnessed Galvin turn left onto Egleston Road, and run off the roadway near 60 Egleston Road into Arm Brook.
Police received additional calls from residents of Egleston Road telling police that the driver was attempting to flee the scene.
Galvin was apprehended and he admitted to driving the Ford. He was identified by his MA Commercial Driver’s License and by Baldwin.
Timothy Fanion, the Westfield Police officer on the scene, observed Galvin had “glossy blood shot eyes, slurred speech, unsteadiness on his feet and a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath,” according to court records.
Galvin agreed to a field sobriety test, which he failed.
Police had to employ a crane to get Galvin’s vehicle out of the stream. Also police notified the Department of Public Works about a downed tree and guard rail damage.
No one was injured in either accident.
Thirty minutes following his arrest, on charges of leaving the scene of property damage, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor, Galvin refused to take a breathalyzer test, according to police.
Under “Melanie’s Law,” refusing a breathalyzer test for those 21 years of age or older results in an automatic and immediate 180-day license suspension for first time offenders, according to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. It is not known whether Galvin has been charged with previous OUIs.
On October 28, 2005, Melanie’s Law was implemented, which greatly increased the penalties for Chemical Test Refusals, massrmv.com website.
The law was named for Melanie Powell, a 13-year-old girl from Marshfield, who was killed by a repeat-offense drunk driver in 2003 while crossing Route 139, according to The Patriot Ledger.
Galvin was released on his own recognizance after he was arraigned in Westfield District Court Friday and will be back in court for a pretrial hearing on October 2.
Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at [email protected]
