BOSTON, Sept. 3, 2015—A man on probation for one OUI case and in default on another will be held without bail for at least 60 days after allegedly striking a woman with his car and speeding away from the scene, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

WILLIAM DAVIS WATSON (D.O.B. 4/15/78) of South Boston was arraigned in South Boston Municipal Court today on charges of operating with a suspended license, leaving the scene of a collision causing injury, and the civil offense of failing to stop at a crosswalk. The charges stem from a collision yesterday evening in which he allegedly hit a 60-year-old South Boston woman on William Day Boulevard.

Assistant District Attorney Ian Leson recommended that Watson’s bail be set at $20,000 cash and that his open bail on a February case charging operating under the influence of drugs be revoked. Judge Michael Bolden set bail at $10,000 and revoked Watson’s open bail.

Leson told the court that State Police on routine patrol responded to the scene of an apparent hit and run a short distance from the South Boston barracks at about 7:50 pm. A motorist who had witnessed the incident followed the suspect vehicle, spotted a trooper’s cruiser, and began leaning on her horn to get his attention. When the trooper approached her car, she pointed out the suspect vehicle and said it had just hit a pedestrian and “took off.”

The trooper began pursuit of the red Toyota sedan, which had by this time passed the cruiser, and stopped it in the area of the onramp to I-93 northbound. Watson was alone in the vehicle. When the trooper asked if he had hit a pedestrian, he allegedly stated, “I think so.”

Watson was arrested and booked at the barracks, where he allegedly stated he had taken suboxone and gabapentin, both controlled substances. A State Police drug recognition expert evaluated Watson and found that he was not currently intoxicated.

Witnesses to the collision told State police that Watson’s red Toyota approached the crosswalk between Moakley Park and Carson Beach at a rate of about 35 mph and did not slow down. One witness sounded her horn to warn the victim, who was crossing the street, but to no avail: the Toyota struck her and the impact threw her about 15 feet.

Boston EMS responded to the scene and transported the woman to Tufts Medical Center with injuries to her head and hip, which she is expected to survive.

At the time of his arrest, Watson was on probation for operating under the influence of liquor as a first offense out of Lynn District Court and was in default for operating under the influence of liquor and operating with a suspended license out of Dorchester Municipal Court.

–30–

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