Off-duty state police officer charged with driving under the influence after crash in Tewksbury

On Sunday, an off-duty state police officer was arrested for driving under the influence after a two-vehicle crash in Tewksbury, police said.

Authorities said James S. Doran, 28, was driving when his car rear-ended another vehicle near the intersection of Main Street and Clark Road on Sunday at 11:12 p.m.

State police said Doran graduated from the State Police Academy on Oct. 9 and is beginning a one-year probation period. State police said he has been placed on administrative leave pending a status hearing scheduled for this week.

James S. Doran reservation photo. Tewksbury Police

Tewksbury police said the driver and passenger of the vehicle that hit Doran were taken to a local hospital.

After the accident, officers “observed Doran allegedly unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. “Police also found open containers of alcohol in the vehicle,” the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Prosecutors said Doran also received a civil judgment for having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle.

Doran was arraigned Monday in Lowell District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to operating under the influence of alcohol and violating open container laws. Prosecutors said he was released on personal recognizance and ordered to surrender his driving license and stop consuming alcohol.

John R. Ellement can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @JREbosglobe.