BERNARDSTON — A two-car crash on Route 10 near Turners Falls Road led to the arrest of a New York man for substance and motor vehicle violations after police found marijuana in the vehicle he was driving Tuesday night.
According to a police report written by Bernardston Police Officer Curtis J. Weaver, Edward W. Morgan, 62, of Brooklyn, New York City, was impaired when he crashed into a stationary vehicle that was about to make a turn, endangering a mother and 8-month-old child in the car he hit.
Both vehicles are “believed to be totaled,” according to the police report, and Morgan was arrested after failing a field sobriety test and police discovered an estimated $69,000 worth of marijuana in his car.
Morgan was arrested for operating under the influence of liquor; operating under the influence of drugs (marijuana); negligent operation of a motor vehicle; and possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance (marijuana), according to police.
He was taken to the Bernardston Police Department for processing and transported to the Franklin County Jail and House of Correction, where he was held on $1,000 bail — $10,000 bond — before being arraigned Wednesday.
Morgan has been released on bail, and is due back in court on Jan. 2, 2020, for a pretrial hearing.
According to the police report, Weaver responded to the crash shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday. Weaver noticed Morgan had an “odor of intoxicating liquor on his breath, had glassy eyes, slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet.” Morgan failed a field sobriety test, and Weaver discovered an open package of marijuana edibles on the center console of Morgan’s vehicle.
A subsequent search uncovered two brands of marijuana edibles, valued at around $25, and several strains of marijuana packaged as if to indicate it was for distribution, according to the police report. Police found 32 ounces of “Member Berries” marijuana, valued at around $9,000; and 5 lb. each of “Banjo,” “Gelato,” “L.A. Kush” and “Cheese Cake” marijuana, each valued at $15,000.
According to police, two “unknown drug type” substances were also found in cardboard boxes. No further information on those substances is currently available.