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State trooper is seventh hit this year by alleged drunk driver

Print | Comments () Posted by John Ellement October 15, 2010 02:29 PM

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Massachusetts State Police

State Police released this photograph of Trooper Jonathan Nickles' cruiser after the crash Thursday night.

By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

A state trooper suffered minor injuries Thursday night when an alleged drunk driver smashed into his cruiser while fleeing from Milford police, authorities said today.

The crash involving Trooper Jonathan Nickles was the seventh time this year that a trooper has been hit by an alleged drunk driver while in a cruiser, State Police said. On Monday, Colonel Marian J. McGovern was rear-ended, allegedly by a drunk driver, in Shrewsbury.

Nickles was driving to work in his marked cruiser when he saw cruisers with emergency lights activated heading in his direction. He turned on his emergency lights and positioned his cruiser on Route 109 in the path of a pickup truck whose driver was fleeing from Milford police.

The driver smashed into one car, then his car bounced into the cruiser, then came to a stop in a bar parking lot in Medway where Milford police took him into custody.

"Trooper Nickles acted selflessly and courageously in helping bring to a close the pursuit of a dangerous fleeing suspect,'' David Procopio, spokesman for the State police, said in a statement.

He added, "we are grateful he was not injured. He is to be commended for risking his own life to get a drunk driver off the roads before the suspect killed an innocent person."

Dana J. Scovil, 36 of Webster was charged with operating under the influence (second offense), reckless operation of a motor vehicle, marked lanes violation, possession of alcohol in a car, and failure to stop, according to a Milford police report.

According to local and State Police, the incident began late Thursday night when Scovil began making threatening phone calls to the staff at the Milford nightspot, the Prezo. Scovil allegedly vowed to "make people sorry'' if he learned an ex-girlfriend was working there, according to the report.

The woman does not work there, but a worried employee alerted Milford police, identified Scovil, and described the vehicles he owned, which includes a Ford pickup truck, according to police. Milford Officer Nathan M. Hathway parked in the bar's parking lot, watching for Scovil.

Scovil allegedly showed up around 10 p.m. and Hathway tried to pull him over for driving with a suspended license, according to police. Instead of stopping, Hathway sped eastbound on East Main Street, turned right on Beaver Street, and then drove east on Route 109, heading to Medway.

With Hathway in pursuit at speeds of up to 45 miles an hour, Scovil continued east on Route 109 near the intersection with Route 126 where he crashed into Nickles' cruiser and the other car, police said.

After the crash, Scovil jumped out of his truck but was taken into custody after a brief chase. Scovil was despondent, police said.

"Scovil stated that he wanted to end his life and that his life had already been ruined,'' Hathway wrote in his report."He apologized for the accident and said he would not make it to trial.''

Scovil refused to take chemical breath tests and was charged with drunk driving because he smelled of alcohol, was unsteady on his feet, and had glassy eyes, police said. He also allegedly tossed a half-drunk can of beer out of the truck during the pursuit, police said.

Scovil was scheduled to be arraigned today in Milford District Court.

Nickles suffered minor injuries to his arm and shoulder, but was not hospitalized, State Police said.