A Boston police officer has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after a collision that caused injuries to an off-duty officer in Weymouth. The accident took place shortly after midnight yesterday on Route 3 south, reported NBC Boston. Officials said the officer’s vehicle lost control and struck an SUV, only to be later identified as an unmarked police cruiser.
The driver of the 2023 Nissan Frontier, identified as 38-year-old Boston Police Officer Stephen O'Connell, displayed signs of impairment at the scene. After a click on their traffic stop, state troopers stated they witnessed the crash and immediately intervened. O'Connell has been charged with operating under the influence (liquor), alongside several other motor vehicle violations, including negligent operation and possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. On the scene, it was determined by the troopers that the Frontier had lost control, which had led to the crash. As reported by WHDH, O'Connell is expected to face arraignment in Quincy District Court.
The off-duty officer, who was driving home after completing his shift, was piloting the unmarked cruiser at the time of the incident. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital as a precaution, confirmed Massachusetts State Police. The injured officer's long road to recovery begins, having been involved in this unfortunate incident, while Stephen O'Connell has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of an internal affairs investigation, according to Boston police.
Meanwhile, Officer O’Connell, who was on administrative leave at the time of the incident, has been released by a bail commissioner on his own personal recognizance to appear in court at a later date. State Police say the Nissan unsteadily traveled the roadway before striking the SUV containing the off-duty officer, exemplifying a stark example of the perils of impaired driving. O'Connell's administrative leave status continues, as mentioned in an email from Boston police, while an internal affairs probe is conducted.
