A late-night crash has thrown a Massachusetts Republican’s statewide campaign into turmoil just weeks before voters head to the polls.
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voters → throw → polls
Shawn Oliver, 42, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor and a New Bedford city councilor, suspended his campaign on Sunday.
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Oliver → suspend → Sunday
The move came after Oliver was arrested following a rollover crash that involved five parked vehicles, police confirmed to Fox News Digital.
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police → come → Digital
Officers responded around 11:40 p.m. Saturday to 448 Dartmouth St., where a vehicle had overturned after striking multiple parked vehicles, the New Bedford Police Department said.
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Department → respond → vehicles
Two of the five parked vehicles sustained extensive damage.
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Two → park → damage
Oliver, identified by police as the driver, was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
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Oliver → identify → injuries
Following an investigation at the scene and at the hospital, officers arrested Oliver and charged him with operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation and speeding, police said.
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police → follow → vehicle
Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Minogue publicly called on Oliver to suspend his campaign.
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Minogue → call → campaign
"I am extremely disappointed.
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I → disappoint → ?
Shawn is lucky to be alive and lucky that no one innocent was hurt," Minogue wrote on X. "There is no excuse for driving under the influence."
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Minogue → hurt → influence
Minogue, a businessman and military veteran challenging Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, said he spoke with Oliver before demanding he step aside.
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he → challenge → Oliver
"After speaking with Shawn, I am asking him to suspend his campaign immediately, and when elected, I will formally ask for his resignation," he wrote.
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he → speak → resignation
Oliver confirmed his campaign suspension on X, saying "the election is too important to be overshadowed by personal matters."
New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell said in a statement posted to Facebook that the crash happened in the city’s South End.
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crash → confirm → End
"This morning, I was made aware that City Councilor Shawn Oliver was involved in a car accident in the South End and taken into custody," Mitchell said.
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Mitchell → make → custody
"I’m grateful to the New Bedford Police Department for their prompt response and relieved that no one was seriously injured."
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one → ’m → response
The Democratic mayor also called for Oliver to address the incident publicly.
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Oliver → call → incident
"The allegations against Councilor Oliver are deeply concerning, and the public deserves to hear his explanation of what happened," Mitchell said.
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Mitchell → deserve → explanation
Minogue urged Oliver to focus on his family and take steps to prevent another incident.
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Minogue → urge → incident
"Shawn is a father and grandfather, and he needs to put his family first.
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he → need → family
He needs to do the work to ensure this never happens again," Minogue wrote.
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Minogue → need → work
"If he needs help with that, I will help him."
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I → need → him
He also took aim at his Democratic opponent.
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He → take → opponent
"As governor, I will put the Commonwealth first.
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I → put → Commonwealth
That starts with accountability, something Massachusetts has not seen from Maura Healey," Minogue wrote.
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Minogue → start → Healey
The Massachusetts Department of Correction confirmed to Fox News Digital that Oliver, a New Bedford city councilor employed by the department, has been placed on restricted work duty following his arrest.
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Oliver → confirm → arrest
"Shawn Oliver has been placed on restricted work duty while all facts and circumstances are reviewed.
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facts → place → duty
He is currently assigned to the Massachusetts Treatment Center," department spokesman Scott J. Croteau said.
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Croteau → assign → Center
The campaign suspension comes just weeks before the November election, with Minogue challenging Healey and Democratic Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll seeking another term.
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Driscoll → come → term