Marlborough Man Crashes Van and Flees to Econo Lodge on Foot

A Marlborough man was arrested for OUI and other offenses after a crash in Shrewsbury that ultimately involved the Shrewsbury, Marlborough and Northborough police departments, as well as a call from the driver's wife.

Clayton Watts,26, of 74 Chestnut St., of Marlborough was charged with OUI, negligent operation, speeding, marked lanes violation, suspended license, leaving the scene of personal inujry and leaving the scene of property damage after he smashed his Dodge Caravan into an island and DPW sign, and left the scene on foot to the Northborough Econo Lodge, according to the police report. 

On Thursday, Feb. 3, around 3 a.m., Northborough Police responded to a crash near 380 Southwest Cutoff that had been reported by Shrewsbury PD. When Sgt. William Griffin arrived, he "noticed a gray, Dodge Caravan...disabled from impacting the island and DPW sign."

Police also reported that the inside of the van showed that the airbags had deployed, the passenger side window was shattered and there was blood on the interior and exterior of the passenger side door.

"Footprints led toward JJ's Sports Bar and Econo Lodge, where a brown slipper and more droplets of blood were discovered," read the police report. Shrewsbury PD helped with the search, and Marlborough police visited the owner's home.

Inititally, police had responded on a tip from a woman and owner of the Dodge, who called to report that her husband had been "drinking all evening" and "took the vehicle while she was sleeping." Also according to the report, she indicated that he wasn't supposed to be driving at all because of a suspended license.

The woman called police later to tell them that she had talked to Watts, who stood near the Econo Lodge and asked for a ride because he was "very cold and bleeding."

Sgt. Griffin noticed prints in the snow that led pustairs to the second floor of the Econo Lodge, where they found Watts in the laundry room. Appearing "unsteady on his feet" and having a "moderate odor of alcohol on his breath," the report also said that Watts was shivering and still bleeding from his left hand, as well as suffering from foot pain. Shoeless, in pajama pants, a button down shirt and overcoat, Watts was still wet and covered in snow.

Griffin asked Watts about a passenger in the van, and Watts denied having a passenger, and admitted that "he had crawled out of the vehicle through the passenger side."

According to police, Watts refused field sobriety tests and exercised his Miranda rights. He was transported to Marlborough Hospital, where he was evaluated, and where police also read him his rights. Watts also refused a blood test and was transported to Northborough PD and then Westborough District Court.