ANDOVER, Mass. – Former Boston Bruins star Ray Bourque, who’s facing a drunken driving charge, says he accepts the responsibility for his actions.
Bourque was charged Friday night with operating under the influence of alcohol and following too closely. He posted bail and was released.
“For the first time in my life, I find myself in unfamiliar territory,” Bourque said in a statement released Sunday. “I am not happy about the situation I put myself into.”
The statement continued. “I am a very proud person that accepts the responsibility of my actions and have always accepted being in the media eye. I have used this popularity to try and positively impact as many lives as possible. I am happy that no one was hurt in the accident and thank everyone who has reached out in support of my family and me.”
According to the Boston Globe, Bourque’s blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit when his Mercedes struck a minivan carrying a group of teenagers in Andover on Friday night, according to a police report released Monday after the hockey icon’s arraignment.
Bourque, 55, entered a not-guilty plea during his arraignment in Lawrence District Court on charges of operating under the influence of liquor and following another vehicle too closely.
According to the Globe, Bourque avoided injury, but Officer Jeffrey Arleque noticed “a heavy odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath,” the report said. Bourque, who was slurring his speech, told Arleque that he “had a few drinks at the Andover Country Club,” police said.
According to the report, Bourque agreed to perform field sobriety tests and swayed from side to side after he exited his vehicle. He performed poorly on the tests and blew into a portable breathalyzer, which showed a blood alcohol level of 0.249, according to Arleque. The legal limit in Massachusetts is .08.
His next court hearing is scheduled for July 21, according to the Globe.