Massachusetts: Cops: Nurse driving drunk when she hit trooper after Pats game
A Beverly nurse accused of driving drunk when she struck a state trooper after last night’s Patriots’ game was released on personal recognizance after her arraignment this afternoon in Wrentham District Court.
Catherine E. Williams, 29, had a not-guilty plea entered on her behalf and stood silent with her head down as Assistant District Attorney Peter Kelley outlined the charges against her, which include driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 — nearly double the 0.08 legal limit. Williams told officers she attended the Pats’ win over the Bills and had one glass of wine, her attorney, Sam Hausman said.
“No offense, counselor, but if that breathalyzer is accurate, that is a very large glass of wine,” Judge Stephen Ostrach said before releasing Williams on a $1,000 amount she will only owe if she fails to show up for her next court date on Jan. 12. The judge also ordered Williams to remain alcohol free and submit to random alcohol screening.
Williams was leaving Gillette Stadium around midnight when she struck a state trooper directing traffic on Route 1 south with her 2012 Jeep Liberty, Kelley said. The prosecutor told the court officers detected the strong odor of alcohol as they spoke with Williams and said her speech was slurred and she was unsteady on her feet. She told them she had one glass of wine at the game, Kelley said, adding that she failed field sobriety tests that included reciting the alphabet — even though officers gave her three tries.
In a police report, a trooper painstakingly chronicled Williams' alphabet tests.
"On her first try she recited 'ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST VWUZ,' " he wrote. "I advised Williams to relax and take her time and attempt the test again. On her second test Williams recited 'ABCDEF JKM' and stopped. Williams advised me that she was nervous and I again instructed her to relax and attempt the test again. On her third attempt Williams recited 'ABCD G' and stopped."
Williams has an open case in Salem District Court for a domestic assault and battery. Hausman said Williams told him she expects the case to be dismissed and said the alleged victim — an ex-boyfriend — no longer wants to pursue the matter.
Hausman, who was representing Williams only for the arraignment, said the suspect was alerted by a passenger about pedestrians walking to the right of her car and “instinctively swerved left,” striking the officer. He called it an “unfortunate incident” and said his client “feels terribly” about what happened.
Hausman said Williams was nervous during the field sobriety tests and is not likely to miss any future court dates. He also called into question the breathalyzer results, citing reports about problems with the technology.
Williams will be retaining private council to represent her going forward, Hausman said.
The state trooper was treated and released after several hours at Norwood hospital, according to state police spokesman David Procopio.
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