NEW BEDFORD — Massachusetts lieutenant governor candidate and local official Shawn Oliver was arrested and faced an operating under the influence (OUI) charge following a severe overnight motor vehicle crash on Dartmouth Street, according to reporting by The New Bedford Light
The incident drew widespread local attention after community members posting in a New Bedford police scanner Facebook group reported a dramatic crash overnight directly in front of the Dartmouth Street Stop & Shop. Witnesses and group members described a heavily mangled scene featuring a black SUV flipped completely upside down.
As local chatter grew, social media users pointed out connections to the candidate’s online presence. Commenters noted that Oliver had previously shared a photograph of a black SUV matching a similar description on his campaign’s Facebook page.
When approached by The New Bedford Light, Oliver acknowledged to the reporter that he had been involved in a crash on Dartmouth Street.However, he declined to comment further and refused to answer questions regarding why he was taken into custody.
According to reporting details from The New Bedford Light, Oliver displayed no visible injuries following the incident. Upon his release from custody, having arranged no ride, he walked away from the jail wearing a plain white T-shirt and carrying his belongings in a plastic bag into the chilly 44-degree weather.
The developing story continues to reverberate across local political and community circles as further details emerge regarding the candidate’s arrest.
