Suspect in Car Theft Seriously Injured in Dartmouth Crash

DARTMOUTH — A Fall River man accused of stealing a car in New Bedford has been hospitalized after crashing the vehicle in Dartmouth.

Dartmouth Police say members of the Police Department, along with other emergency personnel, responded to a motor vehicle crash in the area of 671 State Road at around 7:50 p.m. on Monday.

At the scene, police officers found that a 2000 Ford Excursion had rolled over. The driver of the vehicle, John Berube, 35, of Fall River, was injured and found lying on the ground near the vehicle.

Berube was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries.

Dartmouth Police say the vehicle that had crashed at the scene was reported stolen out of New Bedford prior to the incident. New Bedford Police Department logs indicate that the vehicle had been stolen near the Burger King at 605 Tarkiln Hill Road in the North End.

New Bedford Police are charging Berube with breaking and entering a vehicle in the nighttime for a felony, larceny of a motor vehicle, assault with a dangerous weapon, marked lanes violation, failure to stop for police, and operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license. Dartmouth Police are also expected to file charges against Berube.

Route 6 was closed in both directions as investigators looked into the crash. The crash was investigated by the Dartmouth Police Department Crash Reconstruction Unit.