Rockland woman charged with drunken driving in violent head-on crash

ROCKLAND, Mass. — Rockland Police have charged a 51-year-old woman with drunken driving following a violent head-on crash Tuesday evening, Lieutenant Nicholas Zeoli told Boston 25 News. 

A Honda CRV and a Chevrolet utility pick-up truck collided on Beech Street, near the entrance to Standpipe Drive, around 6:30 p.m. 

Zeoli said the investigation indicates the driver of the Honda was heading north on Beech Street when she crossed over into the southbound lane and struck the pick-up truck head-on. 

Both drivers were injured and trapped in their heavily damaged vehicles.

Fire Chief Scott Duffey said his department received the call for the crash at the same time a fire alarm was activated at the Spring Gate Apartments. Due to a previous medical emergency, a Rockland ambulance was at South Shore Hospital with two firefighter/paramedics.

Four firefighters were left to respond to both calls. Two responded to the crash scene in an ambulance while the other two responded to the fire alarm at the apartment complex. 

Duffey said a call went out to all off-duty firefighters to respond to either scene. The fire department also requested Hanson Fire respond to the crash scene to help. 

When the two on-duty Rockland firefighters arrived at the crash scene, they started to provide medical aid to the injured drivers. Off-duty firefighters then started to arrive and assist. 

Hanson firefighters showed up soon after with a set of extrication tools, commonly known as the Jaws of Life. More off-duty Rockland firefighters then arrived at the scene in a ladder truck, which contained a second set of extrication tools. The firefighters worked together and were able to free both drivers from their vehicles in about 20 to 25 minutes. 

Duffey said both drivers were taken to South Shore Hospital. One driver suffered minor injuries and the other suffered serious injuries but is expected to survive. 

Zeoli said the driver of the Honda, an unnamed 51-year-old Rockland woman, is being charged with operating under the influence of alcohol, a marked lanes violation and negligent operation.

Duffey praised his firefighters for handling the simultaneous calls.

“The Rockland Firefighters did an awesome job on this scene,” Duffey said. “They were able to efficiently handle the calls and provide excellent care to injured victims.”

Duffey added, “The Hanson Fire Department Firefighters also performed admirably and were able to provide us the much-needed mutual aid and assistance.”

Cox Media Group