FAIRHAVEN - A Fairhaven man is arrested after initially trying to flee the scene of a motor vehicle accident in the town.

Fairhaven Police responded to the intersection of Weeden Road and Babbit Street just after 2 p.m. on Saturday for reports of a motor vehicle accident involving a 2000 Honda Civic and a 2011 GMC SUV. Before police could arrive, the driver of the Honda fled the scene of the crash.

Police say the Honda sped through several neighborhood streets to evade capture. At one point, the driver of the Honda swerved his vehicle at a witness who was following the vehicle on foot. The driver of the Honda then drove over a lawn at 13 Studley Street, and then drove back toward the scene of the crash where he was detained by a construction crew that was working in the area.

Police arrived on the scene and placed the driver of the Honda, Raymond Pires, 51, of 10 Mark Drive, Fairhaven, into custody.

As part of the investigation, police determined that the initial crash involved three vehicles instead of the previously reported two. Pires, who was reportedly driving northbound on Weeden Road, served to avoid striking a vehicle that was traveling westbound on Babbit Street. Police say as he was swerving, Pires struck the westbound vehicle as well as a 2018 Ford F-150, which was parked and unoccupied.

Pires is charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, unlawfully attaching license plates, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, trespass with a motor vehicle, and assault by means of a dangerous weapon for swerving his vehicle at the witness.

Pires was released on bail after being transported to the Ash Street Jail. He was arraigned in Third District Court on Monday morning.

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