BOSTON, March 4, 2013—An Abington man was arraigned Friday on charges he was driving under the influence of drugs and without a license when he struck two children on a crosswalk in Dorchester, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said today.

MICHAEL DUCA (10/23/84) was arraigned on charges of operating after suspension, operating under the influence of drugs, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle at his Dorchester District Court arraignment.  Assistant District Attorney Caitlin Grasso requested bail be set at $2,000 and that his bail be revoked in two open cases out of Plymouth District Court and a third case out of Quincy District Court, each of which charge Duca with operating after suspension.  She additionally requested that Duca be required to abstain from drugs and alcohol and be subject to random urine tests.

Judge James Coffey imposed the requested $2,000 bail and ordered Duca to attend Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous meetings twice a week.  He declined to revoke Duca’s bail in the open cases or impose random tests.

According to prosecutors, officers from Boston Police Department arrived at the intersection of Talbot and Dorchester avenues around 6:00 p.m. on Thursday to find a large crowd of people and a black 2003 Saab that witnesses said had struck a toddler and a child in a stroller as they crossed the street with their family on a crosswalk.  Personnel from Boston Fire Department and Boston EMS were already on scene.

Duca was seen driving the vehicle at a high rate of speed moments before the crash, prosecutors said, but he switched seats with his passenger – a 28-year-old Plymouth woman who owned the vehicle – before police arrived.

Prosecutors said Duca’s speech was slurred and he was unable to maintain a train of thought as he was interviewed by police, even nodding off at one point during the questioning.  During a battery of field sobriety tests, he was able to recite the alphabet but unable to walk a straight line or stand on one foot.

The victims’ injuries were not life-threatening.  They were treated at the scene and transported to Boston Medical Center for further evaluation.

Duca was represented by Fritz M. Pluviose.  He will return to court on March 29.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.