Dartmouth Man Sentenced For Drunk Driving Crash
A Dartmouth man will serve five to seven years in state prison for charges relating to a deadly November 2015 drunk driving crash in Fall River.
Gregg Miliote, the Director of Communications, for the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office announced that 21-year-old Cameron Silva pleaded guilty to charges of OUI-Masnlaughter and being a minor in possession of alcohol.
Miliote says that on Saturday, November 21, 2015 a passerby placed a 911 call at 11:18 p.m. reporting a white 2005 Ford Focus located in a wooded area off Copicut Rd. in Fall River.
Upon arrival police and rescue personnel found two males inside the vehicle and one officer reported a very strong odor of a stale alcoholic beverage emanating from the back seat.
The passenger, identified as 21-year-old Jeffrey DeSousa, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Silva, who was driving the vehicle, was eventually extricated from the vehicle and transported by Med Flight to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence where medical records show that Silva’s blood alcohol level was .19, more than twice the legal limit.
Milote says a subsequent police investigation revealed that Silva had been drinking beers earlier that afternoon with the victim and another friend.
They then went to Gumbo’s in Dartmouth where they consumed mixed hard liquor drinks.
Upon exiting the restaurant Silva lost his balance and fell over.
Miliote says the friend who was with Silva and DeSousa attempted to drive but Silva refused to let him.
The friend stated that he was concerned about Silva’s driving when they left Gumbo’s and he was dropped off at home before the crash.
Further investigation determined that the Focus was traveling 80 mph on Copicut Rd. when it lost control.
The posted speed limit is 30 mph.