Police Log: Driver Arrested For DUI After Witness Reports He Struck Two Poles

Woonsocket Police arrested Zachary Maiorana, 20, of 42 Richmond St., Blackstone, MA Dec. 9 at about 11:27 p.m. in the area of 633 Winter St., charging him with DUI after a caller reported watching him drive into two poles.

According to a police report, Lee Ann Defaut, 43, of Blackstone, MA was driving on Winter Street at about 10:13 p.m. when she observed a green truck with no plates strike a telephone pole on Winter Street and one on Privelege Street. She said the truck had approached her car in her lane head-on with no headlights on, and after she swerved to avoid it, she turned around and followed. 

According to officer Andrew Broccoli's report, another officer had located the truck and pulled it over by the time he arrived. As Broccoli approached the scene, he observed officers escorting a man, later identified as Maiorana, away from the vehicle. Broccoli reported seeing the man stumbling as he walked. 

Broccoli spoke with Maiorana, observing slurred speech, blood-shot eyes and an odor of alcohol on his breath. The officer administered a series of sobriety tests, which Maiorana failed, according to the report.

Maiorana refused to give his name to officers until he was allowed to relieve himself, eventually identifying himself. He was read his rights and agreed to a chemical test.

Broccoli reported that Maiorana said he had smoked marijuana and drank a beer, and that he would make bail and be driving the same day. His breath test result showed a blood alcohol level of .170.

Officers found that Pole 3 on Winter Street, which was attached to another pole with three latches, had been struck, breaking one of the latches, bending the other two. One of the two poles had been moved a foot. Maiorana's truck also had serious damage to the center of the front bumper. 

Police charged Maiorana with DUI, first offense, .15 or greater, and driving with a suspended license. He was also given citations for driving without lights when required, operating left of center, operating without evidence of insurance, operation of an unregistered vehicle, and two citations for failing in his duty to stop in an accident involving damage to a highway fixture.