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Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan involved in minor car accident
Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan was involved in a minor car accident last Friday and according to him, the matter has been settled.
Fall River Reporter received a copy of the police log that shows a reporting party walked into the Fall River Police Department on Friday, May 17th, and stated that the “Mayor of Fall River hit her car and took off.” The log stated that the witness to the accident was an employee of the restaurant Caravella.
Fall River Reporter reached out to the Mayor’s office and spoke with Coogan who stated that he had dinner at the local establishment on Friday and that when he left, he backed out of a parking space and thought he hit a car parked on the side of him.
Coogan stated that he got out of his car and looked at both his and the other car and saw no damage. “I thought, well, I got lucky” when he saw that there was no damage.
The Mayor said that he then left and went to the opening of a softball season event and while he was there, got a call from the police department saying that it was reported that he had hit a car and caused damage.
According to Coogan, he asked the officer to give the couple his personal phone number and asked them to call him directly. Coogan said that he spoke to the couple, who he said were “great people, very nice couple” and they agreed to meet at a mechanic/autobody shop in Taunton on Sunday.
Coogan stated that he met the couple there and even then, he said he could not see the damage until it was pointed out to him. Coogan stated that he then “wrote them a check” to cover the cost of the damage. He said the amount was for $1,000.00.
He said the couple was very understanding and that they looked forward to seeing the Mayor at the feast in Fall River this summer. “They were great and I made a mistake,” said Coogan.
Coogan was driving his own personal car and does not have a city-issued vehicle. “I do not have a city car, I do not even take money for gas,” said the Mayor this afternoon.
The Mayor also shared that prior to reaching out to the couple, he contacted Fall River Chief of Police Paul Gauvin, to make sure he could handle the matter privately between he and the couple. Gauvin told Coogan that parties handle things like this “all the time” and that it was fine.
Reporter called Chief Gauvin but did not get a call back before we went to print with this story.
According to the Mayor, the matter is resolved.
“I made a mistake,” said Coogan “but it’s resolved.”
Carlos
May 20, 2024 at 1:34 pm
Good understanding between the mayor and the owner off the car problem solved
Jake Perry
May 20, 2024 at 1:52 pm
This is quite a convenient excuse for people who may have had one to many with “dinner”.
WhiteGuilt
May 20, 2024 at 2:13 pm
Wow, talk about white privilege!!!
Hi
May 20, 2024 at 3:18 pm
Why pay 1000.00 for no visible damage. Fishy
Armand Dineau
May 20, 2024 at 3:21 pm
This doesn’t pass the smell test. Maybe an “outside investigation” should take place.
Dr. David
May 20, 2024 at 4:04 pm
whatever …. it will be June next week and that means it will be PRIDE MONTH and that’s all that really matters ….
cause if you are a dude having homosexual sex with another dude you should be really proud of that or something
Kevin
May 20, 2024 at 4:18 pm
I sat across from him , and bought ba round of Shirley temples the kids at the table!it was nice treat
Louie Lew
May 20, 2024 at 6:14 pm
Why was he not charged with leaving the scene of an accident?
Maria
May 23, 2024 at 1:21 pm
That’s an excellent point. I didn’t even think of that!
david almeida
June 13, 2024 at 3:26 pm
fall river cops and politicians are all corrupt. the mayor said he didn’t have one drink at the restruant he could of had a marijuana edible police n mayor don’t trust .
IM SUPERMAN I FIGHT CRIME EVERYWHERE EXCEPT
#FALLRIVER
Johnson’s Johnson
May 20, 2024 at 6:18 pm
Caravela is a responsible restaurant I highly doubt Mayor Coogan was over served. Not to mention I’ve been in local restaurants at the same time as Mayor Coogan and his wife and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him or his wife order an alcoholic drink. Seems like a nothing burger story. Parking is tight there.
Lori
May 21, 2024 at 5:48 am
I say right in the side of the mayor he never had a drink of alcohol he had a Diet Coke and so did his wife .
James s
May 26, 2024 at 4:36 pm
I’ve been to many events where the mayor has been present. I have also been in dining establishments at the same time. I have never seen the mayor have a sip of alcohol. This seems like a bogus story, a political witch hunt.
Ken Paiva
May 26, 2024 at 5:05 pm
Where in the story does it say he was drinking alcohol?