Malden man charged with fourth OUI after allegedly crashing into Wellesley police cruiser

By Colin A. Young, Globe Correspondent

A Wellesley police officer is recovering from minor injuries after his cruiser was rear-ended by a drunk driver while he was working a detail on Route 9 Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Just before 3 p.m. Wednesday, the officer was working a private detail for National Grid on the eastbound side of Route 9 near the interchange with Route 128 when he noticed a Jeep Liberty enter the marked work zone, said Wellesley Police Lieutenant Marie Cleary.

The driver of the Liberty, William Spence, 35, of Malden, then allegedly rear-ended the cruiser with “a significant impact,” Cleary said. The officer was sitting inside the cruiser at the time of impact.

Both the officer and Spence were taken to Newton-Wellesley Hospital to be treated for minor injuries, Cleary said. Because Spence was not wearing a seat belt, he sustained cuts to his forehead when it cracked his car’s front windshield, she said. Both have since been released from the hospital.

Spence is charged with his fourth OUI offense, a subsequent offense of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, operating to endanger, possession of an open container of liquor in a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation, and a seat belt violation, Cleary said. Spence also had an active warrant for assault and battery out of district court in Boston.

Spence was ordered held on $35,000 cash bail at his arraignment in Dedham District Court this morning, according to David Traub, spokesman for the Norfolk district attorney’s office. The judge also ordered Spence not to drive and to remain drug- and alcohol-free during the duration of his case, Traub said. Additionally, Spence must enter a long-term alcohol treatment facility as a condition of his release. He is expected back in court April 11.