Shawn Oliver, GOP nominee for lieutenant governor, charged with OUI after New Bedford crash

NEW BEDFORD Shawn Oliver, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor and a New Bedford city councilor, was arrested on a charge of operating under the influence of alcohol after a crash on Dartmouth Street late Saturday, New Bedford police said, according to The New Bedford Light and Boston 25 News.

He was also charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding and a marked lanes violation, police said.

Officers responded to Dartmouth Street around 11:40 p.m. for a crash in which a vehicle overturned after striking several parked cars, police said. Five vehicles were involved, and two sustained extensive damage. A Light photo caption describes Oliver as the operator in the crash. Oliver, 42, was taken to St. Luke's Hospital for his injuries and then placed under arrest, police said.

Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux told the Light that Oliver was booked at about 6:45 a.m. and held at the Ash Street Jail. Heroux told The Boston Globe that Oliver spent less than three hours in the jail before he was released Sunday morning.

Oliver was released on personal recognizance and walked out of the jail just after 9 a.m., the Light reported. He told a Light reporter that he had been in a crash on Dartmouth Street, then declined to comment further and did not answer questions about why he had been taken into custody. He had no visible injuries when he left.

It was not immediately clear whether anyone else was hurt or when Oliver is due in court. Oliver is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Mike Minogue, the Republican nominee for governor and Oliver's running mate, said in a statement Sunday morning, "We are still learning the facts on what happened and hope and pray no one was hurt." He added, "If it is true, Shawn will need to take responsibility for his actions. Driving under the influence is not acceptable." Minogue also thanked law enforcement "for their response last night" and said he would have more to say "when we learn more."

Amy Carnevale, chairwoman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, said in a brief statement that the party "just learned of the car accident involving Shawn Oliver" and is awaiting more information, the Light reported.

Neither Oliver nor a spokesperson for his campaign immediately responded to the Globe's requests Sunday. The mayor's office did not immediately respond to the Light, which also sought comment from Gov. Maura Healey's office.

Oliver, who represents Ward 3, was first elected to the City Council in 2023. In March, the Light reported that he was a correction officer with the state Department of Correction, had joined the Republican Party in August 2025 and had been elected chair of the New Bedford Republican City Committee in February 2026.

Republican Brian Shortsleeve picked Oliver as his running mate in March. Oliver won the Republican primary for lieutenant governor on Sept. 1, the same day Minogue beat Shortsleeve for the party's nomination for governor, WBUR reported. Minogue had endorsed Anne Brensley for lieutenant governor in April, but she failed to qualify for the ballot, the Light reported. Oliver has since campaigned with Minogue.

The Republican ticket faces Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, both Democrats, in the Nov. 3 state election. Oliver and Driscoll met Oct. 13 on GBH's Boston Public Radio in what GBH News called the only lieutenant governor debate before the election.

South Coast 360 will update this story as police, court and campaign information becomes available.

Label: Reported by us, from The New Bedford Light's report and earlier coverage by the Light, WBUR and GBH News.