EASTON, MASS. (WHDH) - A man was arrested and charged with OUI and child endangerment on Saturday night after authorities said he crashed his SUV in an Easton parking lot with his daughter inside.
Eric Lasher, 44, of Lawrence, is accused of drunkenly crashing his vehicle into a light pole in a CVS parking lot near the intersection of Belmont and Washington Streets.
Lasher left his arraignment in Taunton District Court on Monday after pleading not guilty. A judge ordered him to stay away from alcohol.
Police said Lasher immediately showed signs of intoxication and told officers that he “drank too much rum,” when they arrived at the scene of the crash.
Lasher also told officers he thought he was in Brockton, that he got into a fight with his wife and thought his “life was over,” according to a police report.
Authorities said his blood-alcohol levels were three times the legal limit and that they found several open containers of alcohol in his vehicle. One of the bottles was said to be two-thirds empty.
Easton police report includes pictures of alcohol suspect had when he crashed his car with daughter inside #7News pic.twitter.com/cqkUSI43JU
— Steve Cooper (@scooperon7) December 18, 2017
Lasher’s 11-year-old daughter was the only other passenger in the SUV. Both Lasher and his daughter were uninjured.
Officials said Lasher failed a series of field sobriety exercises and was then placed under arrest.
Lasher has now been charged with OUI, child endangerment while operating under the influence, negligent container of liquor in a motor vehicle and marked lanes violation.
Authorities were also approached by a paramedic operating an ambulance who told police that Lasher had been driving erratically on Route 24 prior to crashing.
Lasher is expected back at Taunton District Court early next year. A judge ordered him to stay away from alcohol.
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