Shawn Oliver, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, was charged with drunken driving after police say he drove into five parked vehicles late Saturday night in New Bedford, flipping his own vehicle.
A New Bedford Police spokesperson said officers responded around 11:40 p.m. to the crash on Dartmouth St., where they said two of the vehicles sustained “extensive damage.”
Oliver, 42, was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital to be treated for injuries from the crash, police said. He was arrested and charged with operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation, and speeding.
Oliver, a New Bedford City councilor, was booked early Sunday morning in a New Bedford jail, according to the Bristol County sheriff’s office. Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux told the Globe that Oliver spent less than three hours in the Ash Street jail before he was released Sunday morning.
Neither Oliver, 42, nor a spokesperson for his campaign immediately responded to requests Sunday.
Michael Minogue, the GOP nominee for governor and Oliver’s running mate, said in a statement he was “still learning the facts on what happened and hope and pray no one was hurt.”
“If it is true, Shawn will need to take responsibility for his actions,” Minogue said. “Driving under the influence is not acceptable. I am grateful to law enforcement for their response last night and their daily work keeping our communities safe. I will have further comments when we learn more.”
Amy Carnevale, the chair of the state Republican Party, said party officials “learned of the car accident involving Shawn Oliver.”
“We are awaiting additional information as everyone else,” she said.
This is a developing story, and will be updated.
Chris Van Buskirk can be reached at chris.vanb@globe.com. Follow him on X @byChrisVan Kelly Garrity can be reached at kelly.garrity@globe.com.
