Second offense drunk driver crashes into tree on his own street in Hingham

Dec. 27--A Hingham man crashed into a tree last week on his own street, police said, and he was arrested for second offense drunken driving.

Stephen Kelley, 49, of 22 Beals Cove Road, was arrested Thursday, Dec. 19, and charged with second offense drunken driving and negligent operation.

Officer Jonathan Veno said he was called to Beals Cove Road for a car crashed into a tree. He said the car was off the roadway on the left side with a caved in front end against a tree. The car had severe damage.

Police said Kelley said he felt "great" after the crash and did not complain of any injuries.

When asked for his license, Kelley gave a health insurance card. Police said he was unsteady on his feet and smelled like alcohol.

Kelley told police he hit a patch of ice, which caused him to slide and hit the tree. Police found no ice nearby, Veno said.

Kelley said he had been driving 35 mph on Beals Cove Road, a condo complex.

"(Thirty-five) mph is an unreasonable and potentially dangerous speed within the complex," Veno wrote in his report.

Veno said Kelley denied field sobriety tests and he arrested him. He also refused a breathalyzer test.

He asked police more than once if there was anything they could do to "help him out" according to police reports.

Kelley's first offense drunken driving was in 2006.

___

(c)2019 Wicked Local South/Mariner, Marshfield, Mass.

Visit Wicked Local South/Mariner, Marshfield, Mass. at marshfield.wickedlocal.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.