State Senator Anthony D. Galluccio apologized yesterday for rear-ending a family of four on Sunday afternoon and fleeing the scene, an accident that left one person with minor injuries, a Cambridge neighborhood shaken by his actions, and questions about what prompted his lapses behind the wheel.It is the latest chapter in Galluccio's checkered driving history: The 42-year-old senator has had repeated problems, including at least two previous accidents involving alcohol. In an interview yesterday, Galluccio refused to say whether he had been drinking alcohol before Sunday's incident.
The Cambridge Democrat hit the family's car with enough force that he left an imprint of his license plate on their van, which helped police track and cite him Monday with leaving the scene of an accident.
"It was very poor judgment and I have to accept responsibility for it,'' Galluccio, a former Cambridge mayor and city councilor, said in a 9-minute interview at his State House office.
| Did he then resign? |
The incident is yet another example of a Massachusetts politician in trouble with the law. Galluccio said he did not plan to resign his seat or step down from his prominent post as Senate chairman of the Joint Committee on Higher Education.
"I'm here today to do my job, and that's what I plan on continuing to do,'' said Galluccio. "There are no excuses for it,'' he said. "I'm embarrassed. I'm facing that.''
A citation was issued to Galluccio for leaving the scene after causing property damage and personal injury. If he is found to have left the scene, he could have his driver's license revoked for 60 days, said Ann Dufresne, a spokeswoman for the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
| Given the gentleman's history, it might be considered a good investment on behalf of the citizenry to assign him a professional driver. I think appropriate to put it under "health insurance". |