Trooper working Pats game hit by suspected drunk driver
By: Melissa Randall
@MRandallABC6
One glass of wine. That’s all Catherine Williams says she drank at Monday night’s New England Patriot’s game in Foxboro. Yet on Monday morning the 29-year-old woman from Beverly was arraigned on drunk driving charges for hitting a Massachusetts State Police trooper who was working at detail at Gillette Stadium.
According to court documents Williams was unsteady on her feet. Troopers at the scene on Rt. 1A reported she was swaying from side to side. Williams was given several field sobriety tests which she failed.
“When speaking with her the trooper noted a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her person. Speech was slightly slurred and her eyes appeared to be glassy,” said Assistant District Attorney Peter Kelly.
At that point she was arrested. Williams was read her rights and agreed to a chemical breath test. She blew a .159.
“It was an unfortunate incident. She feels terribly about it. And, uh, we’ll just have to see the case through and see what happens. The case is in the early stages right now,” said Sam Hausman, her court appointed attorney.
Williams is fighting the charges against her.
“My understanding was that she attempting to avoid a pedestrian that was on her right and she kind of reflectively swerved left and that’s when this happened,” explained Hausman.
The judge revoked Williams drivers saying she poses an immediate threat to public safety. She was released on $1,000 surety and ordered to refrain from consuming alcohol until her next court date in January.
Williams also has an open assault and battery case out of Salem.
© WLNE-TV 2015
