East Bridgewater man arrested on list of charges after being injured in fiery crash

Chief Michael Jenkins reports that the East Bridgewater Police Department arrested a man on OUI and gun charges following a motor vehicle crash over the weekend.

On Saturday, at just after 11:00 p.m., East Bridgewater Police responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash in the area of 373 Walnut St.

On arrival, officers observed a sedan on fire and resting against a large boulder. The operator, later identified as 37-year-old Donald McSterling Simmons of East Bridgewater, had exited the vehicle before the officers arrived.

The preliminary investigation indicates that Simmons was operating his vehicle at approximately 60 mph southbound on Walnut Street when it left the roadway, drove over a tree stump, and went airborne into a fire hydrant, breaking it off from the water main.

The vehicle then continued toward Kennelworth Drive, striking a street sign and colliding with a large boulder in front of 373 Walnut St. before catching fire.

Officers detected a strong odor of alcohol on the driver, whom they later identified as Simmons. The East Bridgewater Fire Department extinguished the fire.

Officers attempted to handcuff Simmons to a stretcher so he could be transported to the hospital. He was belligerent and uncooperative and resisted multiple times.

Simmons was later released from the hospital and booked at the East Bridgewater Police Department.

During their investigation, officers found a handgun loaded with nine rounds on the passenger side floor. Simmons has an active License to Carry.

He was arrested and charged with Operating Under the Influence of Liquor, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Marked Lanes Violation, Speeding, Carrying a Firearm While Intoxicated, Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace, and Resisting Arrest.

Simmons is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Brockton District Court.

These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.