Bruins Legend Ray Bourque Arraigned On Drunk Driving Charge
ANDOVER (CBS) -- Former Boston Bruins legend Ray Bourque was arraigned Monday afternoon on charges that he caused an accident while driving drunk Friday night.
Bourque, 55, of Boxboro, is charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and following too closely. He pleaded not guilty.
Andover Police responded to a motor vehicle accident in the area of Lowell Street and Route 133 around 11:30 p.m. Police said Bourque rear-ended a mini-van with his Mercedes-Benz as that mini-van slowed to enter a construction zone. The police report said the mini-van suffered heavy rear damage, and the Mercedes-Benz suffered light front damage.
There were several teenagers in the mini-van at the time of the crash. Yoko Hagiya's daughter was a passenger. She says the girls didn't know the man who hit them was a former Bruins Hall of Famer. "I'm just glad that no one got hurt," Hagiya said. "It was a really scary experience for teenagers but you know, they're OK."
According to the police report, Bourque smelled of alcohol, was slurring his speech, and told officers, "I had a few drinks at the Andover Country Club."
The police report also states that a breathalyzer test showed Bourque's blood alcohol level was .249, more than three times the legal limit. He was taken into custody, and later released on bail.
An Andover officer's narrative in the police report says, "I immediately noticed what I believed to be a heavy odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath."
The officer said Bourque "was unsteady on his feet and was swaying side to side."
Bourque did not comment in court. In a written statement released Sunday night, Bourque said he was sorry, and glad that nobody was hurt in the crash.
"I am not happy about the situation I put myself into on Friday night," Bourque wrote. "I am a very proud person that accepts the responsibility of my actions and have always accepted being in the media eye."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karyn Regal reports
