Police: Drunk driver almost slammed head-on into ambulance rushing patient to hospital

WAREHAM, Mass. — A suspected drunk driver in Wareham almost crashed into an ambulance rushing a patient to a hospital Monday evening, Wareham Police Chief John Walcek said.

First responders were called to a single-car crash on Sandwich Road around 7:30 p.m.

When police arrived, they reported seeing a man yelling, flailing his arms and clenching his first. They believed he was directing his anger to people who had gathered at the scene, but he later started shouting expletives at two police officers.

The officers said they detained the man and determined he has crossed the center line and struck a curb before crossing the road again and hitting a guardrail. They said he tried to drive the car to his house but eventually stopped.

Multiple witnesses told police they saw the car swerving between lanes before the crash.

“One of the vehicles which had to swerve defensively to avoid a head on collision was a Wareham Emergency Medical Services ambulance that was transporting a patient to the hospital at the time,” Walcek said. “Another witness was visibly shaken by the intensity of the accident.”

Police arrested 22-year-old Alexx Joseph Rezendes of Wareham. They charged him with operating under the influence of liquor, possessing an open container of alcohol in a vehicle, a marked lanes violation, operating to endanger, speeding, failure to inspect vehicle, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.

Rezendes wasn’t injured in the crash, according to Walcek.

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