Town administrator charged with OUI following crash that injured pregnant woman

HANSON, Mass. — Hanson's town administrator is off the job after being charged with his second drunk driving offense following a crash in North Attleboro that injured a pregnant woman, according to court documents obtained by Boston 25 News.

Police were called to the intersection of Park Street and Route 1 just before 5 p.m. Wednesday. Two witnesses told police a car being driven by a man later identified as Michael McCue, 52, of Mansfield, failed to stop at an intersection and slammed into a car being driven by a woman who said she was 16 weeks pregnant.

McCue was driving an SUV owned by the Town of Hanson, where he's employed as town administrator. McCue told an officer he was returning home to Manfield following a meeting in Sturbridge.

The pregnant woman behind the wheel of the other car was taken to Sturdy Memorial Hospital for treatment. She was concerned because her airbag deployed and struck her in the stomach.

Two officers at the scene noticed a smell of alcohol coming from McCue. They also noted he was unsteady on his feet and his eyes appeared bloodshot and glassy.

An officer said the first two times he asked McCue if he had been drinking, McCue told him no. But when the officer asked a third time, he said McCue told him he, "had a few beers at lunch."

The officers said McCue failed a series of field sobriety tests, including reciting the alphabet as instructed. Officials also allege that McCue, "placed his [crash] paperwork in his mouth in an apparent attempt to keep from breathing in our direction."

McCue was arrested and taken to the North Attleboro Police Department, where he refused a breath test. He was arraigned on Thursday in Attleboro District Court on charges of OUI Alcohol – Second Offense, Operator to Endanger and Failure to Yield at an Intersection.

McCue was previously charged with OUI Alcohol in 1995.

McCue's driver's license was suspended the day of the crash for refusing the breath test. His driving record also shows he was found to be at fault for a crash in 2016 and issued speeding citations in 1984, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1998.

McCue has been Hanson's town administrator since 2016.

Hanson Town Council John Clifford told Boston 25 News the town learned about McCue's arrest Wednesday night and scheduled an emergency meeting. During the meeting, board members voted to place McCue on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

McCue's existing contract is set to expire on June 30, 2022. His salary for fiscal year 2019 is $119,646.

Appointing an acting town administrator is on the agenda for Tuesday's Board of Selectmen meeting.

Cox Media Group