A pickup truck veered off Route 6 in Swansea on Friday afternoon and slammed into the porch and foundation of a home, leaving the house unsafe to occupy and its driver facing OUI charges. Police say 45-year-old Swansea resident Douglas McLane was behind the wheel of a gray 2022 Toyota Tacoma when the crash happened at 1228 Grand Army of the Republic Highway.
The crash was reported at around 4:29 p.m., according to WPRI, while the Fall River Reporter put the time at approximately 4:30 p.m. Swansea police, fire and ambulance crews responded to the address after a 911 call reporting that a truck had crashed into a house, per the Fall River Reporter. Officers determined that McLane’s Tacoma had left the roadway before striking the home’s porch and foundation, according to NBC Boston.
No One Home, But a Dog Had to Be Rescued
Nobody was inside the house when the truck hit, but a dog was home at the time and had to be removed from the scene once its owners returned. The animal was taken out safely by the homeowners, the station's report notes. Firefighters, meanwhile, moved quickly to stabilize the structure, installing vertical supports beneath the porch’s roof after the impact compromised it.
Officials grew concerned about a possible gas leak at the property, prompting officers to pull McLane from the vehicle, per the same account. Liberty Utilities was called in to address the leak, the Fall River Reporter reports. McLane was subsequently taken to Charlton Memorial Hospital for evaluation.
Charges Filed, House Declared Unsafe
Police arrested McLane on charges of OUI, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and a marked-lanes violation, according to NBC Boston. The marked-lanes charge stems from a state law requiring drivers to stay entirely within a single lane and to confirm it is safe before changing lanes, according to the Massachusetts General Laws.
In the aftermath, the home was determined to be unsafe to occupy, and the truck that struck it was towed from the scene, WPRI reports. Police continued investigating the crash before McLane's arrest, according to NBC Boston. It remains unclear whether McLane has retained an attorney or when he is next expected in court.
