Hingham Man Crashed Into Ambulance, Charged With 4th OUI: Police

From the Hingham Police Department:

HINGHAM, MA – A Hingham man was arrested for repeat drunk driving after crashing into an ambulance that was parked at a crash scene involving a another drunk driver. After striking the ambulance, he left the scene, and was arrested in his driveway for alleged fourth offense drunk driving. No one was injured in the crash with the ambulance.

On Thursday, March 2, 2017 at 6:33 p.m., Officers were investigating a crash on Derby Street near Old Derby Street and a Hingham ambulance was at the scene in the road with one of the drivers from the crash inside being treated by paramedics. A 1995 Toyota Camry traveling east on Derby Street then allegedly crossed over the center line, into the oncoming lane, and struck the parked ambulance in the westbound lane. It appeared the Toyota was attempting to make a left turn in front of the ambulance. The Toyota's right front struck the right front of the 2013 International ambulance. The ambulance, which had its emergency lights on, received minor damage.

An officer standing in the road heard the crash and assisted the driver in backing up off the front of the ambulance. He then began driving forward and the officer told him to pull over to the side of the road. Instead, he turned left onto Old Derby Street and continued driving away. An officer drove off onto Old Derby Street to attempt to stop the car. The officer found the car in the driveway on Old Derby Street with the lights off and the driver still seated in the car. The driver said he believed he hit the tire of the ambulance.

Officers detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on the driver and saw his eyes were bloodshot and glassy. He admitted he drank three drinks and was unsteady as he stood up. He was unable to pass a series of field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest.

Arrested was Christopher M. Ayer, 53, of Hingham. He was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol (fourth Subsequent Offense), operating to endanger, leaving the scene after causing property damage, failure to stop for a police officer, failure to use care when turning. He was held overnight on $2,500 cash bail and arraigned March 3 at Hingham District Court, where he was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on March 7, 2017.

The fourth offense charge is based on three past convictions for Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol in Weymouth in 1991, Hingham in 1989 and Hull in 1993. Under the State's Melanie's Law, the Toyota is being held pending civil forfeiture proceedings.

Image: File Photo