Head-on collision leads to drunk driving arrest in Bristol

A 39-year-old Bristol resident was arrested for drunk driving after slamming his gray Volvo into another car and injuring its female driver just after midnight on Sunday morning.

The accident occurred at 12:02 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10, at the stop light in front of the Bristol Medical Center on Hope Street. According to a Bristol Police investigation, a woman driving a gray Volkswagen was stopped at the red light, facing north, when a Florida car driven by Sean J. May of 31 Constitution St., Bristol, slammed into her while heading south. Both cars were disabled with air bags deployed, and the woman was injured. After giving her statement, she was taken by rescue to Rhode Island Hospital.

Officers interviewed Mr. May, who according to a report by Bristol Patrolman Michael Connors, initially stated “that girl hit my car.” According to the report, Mr. May tried unsuccessfully to produce his driver’s license multiple times (handing over a credit card instead), admitted that he had “one, two, maybe three or four tequila drinks,” said he was drinking at a restaurant and then a friend’s house, slurred his speech and had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath.

Officers subjected him to a field sobriety test, which they say he failed before saying, “I can’t do this, I’m drunk.” He refused to take a chemical test and was taken into custody and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs at 12:26 a.m.

After being taken into custody, Mr. May told officers there was an unloaded .22-caliber rifle in his vehicle. Officers found the rifle, along with an opened 200-ml. bottle of Dr. McGillicuddy’s alcohol.

During questioning at the station, Mr. May allegedly said he was traveling on Metacom Avenue before getting pulled over, and when asked if had been drinking said, “Hell yeah.”

At 3:27 a.m., he was arraigned at the station and released on $2,000 personal recognizance.