A man facing Fall River OUI charges in connection with a Massachusetts drunk driving accident has been denied bail and ordered held in custody pending trial.
In denying bail, the Herald News reported that the judge cited the defendant's poor judgment in causing the June 3 pedestrian accident.
Afonso Oliveira is accused of driving drunk when he hit a woman and three children as they crossed Plymouth Avenue. He is charged with a third offense of operating under the influence, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and failing to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk. Police allege that he passed through the light at the intersection of Plymouth Avenue and Lyon Street, where he struck the victims. The woman was trapped beneath his SUV and dragged for 200 feet before he stopped. Witnesses lifted the front of the Suzuki SUV, allowing the woman to crawl out. Police report that none of the victims were seriously injured in the accident.
Authorities say Oliveira was cooperative but did poorly on sobriety tests and had trouble understanding English. A Fall River defense lawyer may challenge the results of the tests and the assertion that he did poorly. A language barrier may well have impacted the defendant's ability to follow instructions.
Oliveira was previously charged with drunk driving in 1982 and 1994, the Herald News reported. Each charge was continued without a finding.
Police resolved to increase traffic enforcement in the wake of the accident, including the use of crosswalk decoys to target motorists who fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. Police have issued more than $10,000 in tickets for such violations in the last month.
Fall River Criminal Defense Attorney Michael DelSignore represents clients facing OUI charges, drug charges and other misdemeanor and felony violations in Fall River and the surrounding area. The Law Offices of Michael DelSignore are conveniently located in New Bedford and Attleboro.
Call (508) 455-4755 for a free consultation, 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays.
