The Republican candidate for lieutenant governor in Massachusetts has halted his campaign following an incident where he allegedly drove under the influence and crashed into five parked vehicles on Saturday night.
Shawn Oliver, 42, who was running alongside GOP gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue, was arrested around 11:40 p.m. near his New Bedford residence after his car flipped over during the crash, hitting the parked cars, according to reports.
Photos from the scene depict Oliver’s vehicle turned upside down, with several other cars severely damaged in the vicinity.
It is reported that he swerved onto the wrong side of the street, colliding head-on with a parked car, which caused his own vehicle to flip.
Oliver, who also serves as a city councilor in New Bedford, was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries before being arrested on DUI charges around 7 a.m. on Sunday, as stated by police.
He was released from jail at approximately 9:30 a.m. and is scheduled to face arraignment in a New Bedford court on Monday morning.
When journalists visited his family home, his wife mentioned that he was asleep and “very hurt” about the situation but opted not to provide further comments.
In a statement released just after 2:15 p.m. on Sunday, Oliver announced, “After careful reflection, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for Lieutenant Governor.” He emphasized the importance of the election and expressed gratitude to his supporters, requesting privacy for his family during this tough time.
This announcement came shortly after Minogue stated he had encouraged Oliver to step down.
“I am extremely disappointed. Shawn is fortunate to be alive, and thankfully, no one else was harmed. There is no justification for driving under the influence,” Minogue remarked on social media.
He added that he had spoken with Oliver and had asked him to suspend his campaign immediately, noting that he would formally request his resignation if elected. Minogue stressed that Oliver needs to prioritize his family and take steps to ensure such an incident does not recur, offering his help if needed.
With just under three weeks until the November 3 general election, Oliver’s arrest occurs against a backdrop where Minogue is trailing incumbent Democrat Maura Healey by about 19 percentage points, according to recent polling data.
