Former Big Dig chief pleads not guilty

The former head of the Big Dig has been released on personal recognizance after a not guilty plea to drunken driving charges was entered on his behalf.

Matthew Amorello appeared in Haverhill District Court on Tuesday.

Police say Amorello, the former chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, was driving his SUV drunk when he allegedly damaged two parked vehicles in Haverhill in the early morning hours of Aug. 7.

WBZ'S Mark Katic has more.

He was supposed to be arraigned on Aug. 9, but never appeared. His lawyer later said he did not show up because he was in the hospital.

Amorello spoke briefly following his court appearance and said he was sorry for an embarassing situation but didn't  want to talk about the circumstances of what happened until his trial.

Amorello was appointed in 2002 to lead the Turnpike Authority. He resigned under pressure from then-Gov. Mitt Romney in 2006 after a Big Dig tunnel ceiling collapse killed a Boston woman.