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State Sen. Galluccio admits, apologizes for hit-and-run accident

E-mail|Link|Comments () October 6, 2009 05:57 PM

By Martin Finucane and Matt Viser, Globe Staff

State Senator Anthony Galluccio today admitted leaving the scene of a car accident and said he deeply regretted his actions, apologizing to the driver of the other car and to his constituents for his "serious error in judgment."

Senator Anthony Galluccio

"When the accident occurred, because of my driving history, I panicked and left the scene. Although I had no reason to believe that there was any injury involved, there is no excuse for leaving the scene of an accident accident and I deeply regret doing so," he said in a statement.

Galluccio said he realized his error in judgment and reported the accident the next morning to the Cambridge police. He also said he would take care of any damages resulting from the accident.

"Clearly, there is an extra burden on me, because of my driving history and because of my position as an elected official, to be careful behind the wheel. It was an accident, followed by an error in judgment, and I offer my sincerest apologies to the driver of the other car and his passengers, and to my constituents," he said.

Galluccio, a Cambridge Democrat who is a former city councilor and a former mayor of the city, was cited Monday for leaving the scene of an accident after colliding with the other vehicle, which was carrying three people, at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday near Garden and Linnaean streets.

One person from the car was treated at a hospital for minor injuries and released. No one else was hurt. Police learned that Galluccio was the driver after one of the people in the car that was hit took down his license plate.

Galluccio was questioned by police Monday after an officer called to tell him that police were looking for him, police spokesman Frank Pasquarello said.

It wasn't the first time Galluccio's driving has landed him in legal trouble, the Globe reported this morning. His driving record includes two convictions for driving under the influence, including one in 1984, when he was 17, and another in 1997. He also faced charges in a four-car accident in Boston in 2005, though a clerk-magistrate eventually found there was insufficient evidence to charge him with drunken driving.

“Well, obviously, we’re extremely disappointed. We think that public officials should be a little bit beyond what normal people are expected to be, and we think that the senator should, and I believe he has, taken responsibility for his actions. Nobody should leave the scene of an accident, especially an elected official, and I think he’s going to be dealing with that," Senate President Therese Murray said.

Asked if the Senate would consider taking any action against Galluccio, Murray said, “Well, first we have to see what the charges are, and we don’t know what those are as yet. We know he’s been cited for leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury and personal property damage, and that’s all we know.”

Maria Cramer of the Globe staff contributed to this report.