Driver Charged With Striking Stoughton Woman While Drunk Ordered Held On Bail

STOUGHTON, MA — A Whitman man was ordered held on bail after allegedly hitting a person while driving drunk in Stoughton.

Vairo Martins, 38, was arraigned in Stoughton District Court Tuesday. He pleaded not guilty to operating under the influence of alcohol and causing serious injury, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. He was ordered held on $15,000 cash bail.

Sunday night at about 9:30 p.m., police responded to a report of a car striking a woman on Park Street. At the scene, officers found a white van and a woman laying on the street with severe injuries, according to a police report read in court.

Officers noted that Martins had the smell of alcohol on his breath and his eyes were red and glassy. The Whitman man allegedly told police that he didn’t see the victim until it was too late. The victim was taken to Boston Medical Center with serious injuries. As of Monday, she is in stable condition but faces surgery on broken bones in her leg, foot, and back and is expected to stay in the hospital for a few more weeks before entering rehab.

Martins was taken into custody following a failed field sobriety test.

Further investigation at the scene turned up debris from the vehicle and car parts. Authorities say the van has front end damage where they believe the vehicle struck the victim. A witness said he saw the vehicle strike the victim at a high rate of speed.

If Martins posts bail, he must surrender his passport, refrain from driving, remain alcohol and drug-free, and submit to random drug and alcohol testing

Martins is due back in court on June 28.

Image: File Photo