Alleged drunk driver crashes car into telephone pole

GROTON — A Lowell man was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol after crashing his vehicle into a telephone pole on Old Ayer Road in Groton Saturday night.

Officers were dispatched to the scene shortly after 9 p.m. that night for a report of a single-vehicle crash involving a telephone pole.

“Upon arrival, officers observed a gray Toyota Tacoma blocking a lane of travel after striking a telephone pole,” Deputy Chief Rachael Mead said in a statement. “The truck had sustained heavy front-end damage, and the pole was snapped in half at the base.”

The operator of the vehicle was identified as Mackara Chea. He told responding officers he was on his way home from a friend’s house in Acton when he swerved to avoid an animal in the roadway, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and strike the pole.

According to the police report, while speaking with Chea, officers detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath, observed that he had glassy eyes and was unsteady on his feet.

When officers asked Chea if he had consumed any alcohol, he initially stated that he had not, but later stated that he had consumed three bottles of beer earlier.

Following an investigation into the crash, officers determined that Chea had been operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

He was arrested and charged with OUI liquor — second offense, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and a marked lanes violation. Chea was arraigned at Ayer District Court.

Reports for week of Sept. 14

During the week of Sept. 14, Patriot Regional Emergency Communication Center answered 1,691 calls for service in Groton.

Groton Police Officers responded to four abandoned 9-1-1 calls — most ended up being accidental dials on cell phones. The police department also investigated 16 serious incidents, and made four arrests for various criminal offenses.

The GPD received seven complaints reporting suspicious activity calls, but most were unfounded. The fire department responded to 17 fire service calls and emergency responders went to 23 calls for medical aid.

The department updates its reporting weekly.