High Bail in Alleged Drunk Driving Crash that Killed Passenger

BOSTON, Nov. 17, 2014—A three-time drunk driver has been charged with motor vehicle homicide for a Saturday morning crash that killed his passenger, 41-year-old Lillian Grover, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

JEFFREY MASON (D.O.B. 9/11/72) of Walpole was arraigned today in West Roxbury Municipal Court on charges of motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence, OUI as a fourth offense, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Assistant District Attorney Gretchen Sherwood of the DA’s Major Felony Bureau recommended that Mason be held on $500,000 cash bail and, if he posts that amount, that he wear a GPS monitor, remain under home confinement, remain alcohol free, and submit to random breath tests. Judge Debra Shopteese granted all of Sherwood’s requests.

State Police assigned to the Milton Barracks responded to Enneking Parkway just north of Turtle Pond Parkway at about 2:30 on Saturday morning for a report of a car crash. On arrival, they found a 2003 Honda Accord, which had rolled over onto its roof. The vehicle was surrounded by Boston Fire and EMS personnel. The first responders were attending to Grover, who was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The driver was not in the car. A witness told first responders that he had helped the driver out through the window. A short time later, troopers heard a man’s voice from the woods nearby. Upon investigating, they found Mason lying on the ground about 20 feet into the woods across the street from the vehicle.

Mason was injured but was able to speak. He allegedly stated that his tire had blown out, causing him to lose control of the vehicle. As he spoke, troopers detected the strong odor of alcohol on his breath, observed his eyes to be bloodshot and glassy, and noted his speech to be slurred. He was placed in an ambulance and transported to Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Once at the hospital, Mason was read his Miranda rights and consented to have blood drawn to determine his blood-alcohol level. The results of that test are not yet available, but based on the troopers’ observations he was charged with operating under the influence.

Mason’s first drunk driving charge was in Chelsea in 1992. His case was continued without a finding for one year, the standard first-time OUI disposition. He was convicted again in West Roxbury in 1995 and received a two-month sentence, and a third time in Quincy in 2006 and received another two-month sentence.

Mason was represented today by attorney Robert Tobin. He will return to court on Dec. 16.

 

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