New Bedford Driver Nearly Hits Officer, Crashes into Cruisers

NEW BEDFORD - Police arrested a driver Sunday, March 25 after he struck two police cruisers and a vehicle that had been stopped at Route 18 South and South Street at about 9:37 p.m.

Mariano Ixcuna, 41, of 505 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford, was charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, text messaging while driving, failure to make a lane change to avoid a stopped emergency vehicle and a warrant arrest.

Police had stopped a vehicle in the right lane of Route 18 and South Street when a vehicle traveling south struck two cruisers involved in the vehicle stop. One of the cruisers then struck the vehicle that had been stopped.

Officer Michael Doyle was standing at the stopped vehicle and, blinded by the cruiser's emergency lights, did not see the approaching vehicle. He was pushed out of the way of the oncoming vehicle by Officer Alan Faber. Officer Faber and Officer Alberto Silva were able to jump out of the vehicle's path to safety.

The air bags in Ixcuna's vehicle deployed upon impact. Ixcuna, the operator of the stopped vehicle and the officers were not injured.

Ixcuna told police he was looking for his cell phone and was reaching down to grab it when he struck the cruiser.

-New Bedford Police Department