Tiverton man arrested after crash with several children in vehicle

A Tiverton man was arrested after a crash in town where several children were in the vehicle.

According to Captain Michael Miguel, on February 13th at approximately 1:08 p.m., officers responded to the area of Stafford Road at Kitchener Street for a motor vehicle accident.

Upon arrival, officers observed a gold Honda on the curb facing southbound in the northbound lane. The Honda appeared to have been involved in a collision with a white Toyota. The Honda also appeared to have collided with a small fence at 74 Stafford Road.

Officers made contact with the operator, later identified as Stephen Souza of Tiverton. Souza advised officers that he was traveling southbound on Stafford Road and struck the white Toyota that was traveling northbound. Souza further advised officers that there were three other occupants in his vehicle, a 16-year-old male, a 15-year-old male and a 4-year-old female.

While speaking with Souza, officers detected an odor of alcohol emanating from his breath and observed his eyes to be bloodshot and glossy. Souza consented to submit to a series of standardized field sobriety tests and upon completion of the tests, officers determined that Souza was unfit to safely operate a motor vehicle. Souza consented to take a preliminary breath test which yielded a result of .291 BAC. Almost four times the legal limit.

The operator of the Toyota was transported to St. Anne’s Hospital by Tiverton Rescue. All other individuals involved in the accident were checked by Tiverton Rescue and did not require further medical attention.

Souza was placed under arrest and transported to Tiverton Police Headquarters where he refused to submit to a chemical test. Souza was processed and charged with DUI of Liquor/Drugs with a Child Under 13 as a Passenger and Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test. Souza was later arraigned and released on $3000 personal recognizance.