Search for Seal in Wareham Leads to Drunken Driving Charges

WAREHAM - A driver is being charged after crashing into a Wareham Department of Natural Resources vehicle as officials were trying to locate a seal.

Officials with Wareham DNR responded to reports Wednesday night of a seal on the sidewalk along Onset Avenue. After DNR officials arrived on scene, Wareham Police informed them that the seal had left the sidewalk and retreated into a swampy area on the side of the road.

While the DNR vehicle was parked on the side of the road, a passing vehicle struck the DNR truck.

The driver was transported to Tobey Hospital in Wareham and will be charged with operating to endanger and operating under the influence.

A DNR officer was in the truck at the time, but was uninjured.

Wareham Police are still investigating the crash.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare has been notified of the seal sighting and DNR officials will continue to try to locate the seal.

Drivers utilizing Onset Avenue near the billboards are urged to use caution, as that's where the seal was last spotted.