Westport man nearly causes head on crash in apparent suicide attempt

A Westport man struck multiple objects in a crash in the town on Saturday.

According to Westport Detective Jeff Majewski, on September 1st, at approximately 6:44 p.m., the Westport Police and Fire Departments responded to 423 Old County Road for a single car crash. A property owner at that address saw the vehicle after it left the roadway and noticed the driver was unresponsive. The property owner broke open a window and inside the Toyota Highlander saw a semi-conscious 43-year-old male and a household type generator running in the back seat. The driver had struck a mailbox and a telephone pole guide wire before coming to a stop. The driver had crossed the center line on a turn in the road and nearly caused a head on crash with a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.

The Westport Fire Department transported the driver to St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River for carbon monoxide exposure. Responding officers said the smell of CO inside the car was so strong that it caused them to gasp and cough. Thankfully, the despondent man narrowly avoided seriously injuring innocent drivers on the roadway. Officer David Simcoe investigated the crash. The driver will be charged with operating a vehicle so as to endanger. An immediate threat form was sent to the Registry of Motor Vehicles to suspend his driver’s license.

People considering suicide have resources that may help such as local mental health facilities or by calling the Samaritans at (508) 673-3777. Locally, any area hospital has crisis intervention resources as does Corrigan Mental Health Facility in Fall River.