Oct 7, 2009 7:46 am US/Eastern
State Senator Drinking Before Crash? He Won't Say
CAMBRIDGE (WBZ) ―
State senator Anthony Galluccio won't say if he was drinking before a hit-and-run crash in Cambridge Sunday.
He apologized Tuesday for leaving the scene of the crash, saying he panicked.
But since he has a history of drunk driving charges, what was he doing before the accident?
WBZ's Karen Anderson asked him and here was his response:
Anderson: Were you drinking when you got behind the wheel that afternoon?
Galluccio: I was cited by the Cambridge police, for two driving citations, and based on my admission I was driving and I left the scene. It was a very bad decision to do so.
But there is a court, there will be a court hearing on those two citations, so I can't get into some issues. But again, what's important for me right now is to stress my very bad judgment leaving the scene of an accident. I was a bad example, it was a bad decision, I sought to correct it yesterday (Monday) morning, and I want to make sure that people understand that I recognize that was a very bad decision and I've accepted full responsibility for that decision.
Anderson: So given the court case, you can't say whether or not you had been drinking?
Galluccio: Again, I was cited. There were two traffic citations given based on my admission that I was driving and I had been in the accident, so there are some issues that I can't speak to.
What's important for me is I want the public to understand how apologetic I am and regretful that I made that decision. I understand that both as an elected official and someone who has some driving history, I made a very bad decision, I panicked knowing I had been in an accident and knowing my driving history, I made a very bad judgment in leaving and I sought to correct that and I did with an admission that I was driving and that I left the scene.
Anderson: Where had you been beforehand and where did you go after?
Galluccio: Again, there were two traffic citations issued by the Cambridge police based on my admission that I was driving and that I had been in the accident. Those two citations will have a hearing. I can't really say a lot more. I want to make it clear how apologetic I am. I've sought through the Cambridge police I have extended my apology to the passengers. I hope to have an opportunity to extend that apology in person.
I work with kids. I take my responsibilities very seriously. I made a very bad judgement and I don't want anyone to believe that I don't regret that decision and if I could change it I would. At this point I just want to make sure people understand that.
Anderson: Do you think you have an alcohol problem?
Galluccio: Cambridge police, based on my admission, yesterday (Monday) that I had been driving and that I had been in an accident gave me two traffic citations. Because there will be a hearing on those issues, I can't discuss some of the things you may want to. What's important for me is that people understand that I did come forward, acknowledged that I was driving, acknowledged that I made a regrettable mistake in leaving the scene, I came forward and I accept responsibility.
Watch: The Galluccio Interview
Galluccio was cited for leaving the scene of an accident and causing property damage.
According to the
Cambridge Chronicle, Galluccio was convicted of drunk driving in 1984 but received a pardon from Gov. William Weld.
His license was suspended after another DUI conviction in 1997.
He was arrested again for allegedly driving drunk in 2006, but the case was dismissed.
What do you think?
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(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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