Police Officer John P. Driscoll

John P. Driscoll

Police Officer John Driscoll succumbed to injuries sustained when he fell from the running board of a car traveling on Summer Street in Holyoke at 10:00 pm.

While on patrol on Main Street, Officer Driscoll witnessed a vehicle driving erratically. He commandeered a vehicle to pursue a car with a suspected drunk driver. After overtaking the suspect car, the vehicle began to slow down. Officer Driscoll lost his footing and fell from the car when he thought the vehicle had come to a complete stop on Summer Street.

A reserve officer apprehended the driver on Cabot Street and returned to Summer Street, where he found Officer Driscoll in and out of consciousness. He was taken to the police station, where he lapsed into unconsciousness and died of his injuries two days later at the House of Providence Hospital.

The driver of the car Officer Driscoll was pursuing was found guilty of operating while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. His license and registration were revoked, and he was fined $100 for operating an automobile under the influence of liquor and $15 for drunkenness.

Officer Driscoll had been with the Holyoke Police Department for five years. He was survived by his wife, five children, and parents.