Local man sentenced to prison after driving drunk on Route 195

A 47-year-old North Attleboro man who, while driving drunk for at least the fourth time, sideswiped another vehicle on Route 195 in Somerset and fled the scene while operating his car negligently, was convicted in Fall River Superior Court this week and sentenced to serve three-and-a-half years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

According to Gregg Miliote of the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, Gordon Davis pleaded guilty to indictments charging him with OUI-4th Offense, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of property damage and assault.

On November 13, 2017, the defendant, while driving east on Route 195 in the Town of Somerset, sideswiped another vehicle. Despite the obvious collision, the defendant continued to drive east and was seen by witnesses to be swerving across traffic and rapidly changing speeds. At one point, the defendant was travelling just 20 mph on the interstate highway. The defendant, who was being followed by the victim of the sideswipe, took exit 7 in Fall River and attempted to lose the victim, who was now on the phone with police. Massachusetts State Police Troopers eventually located the defendant driving in Fall River and stopped his vehicle. The defendant had a strong odor of alcohol emanating from him, had open beer cans inside the vehicle and failed a sobriety test. The defendant was described by police as being extremely belligerent and spit blood at a nurse .

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matt Friedel and the state prison sentence was imposed by Judge William Sullivan.

“This defendant is a menace on the roadways with his history of drunken driving convictions. Fortunately no one was injured because of his inebriated state. He is clearly a danger to the community and needs to kept off the street,” District Attorney Quinn said.