Island Resident Who Struck Civil War Monument On Main Street Agrees To Plea Deal

The island resident who crashed into the Civil War Monument on Main Street back in February struck a plea deal on Tuesday with the district attorney’s office that landed him on probation.

Lucas A. Franca De Brito, 28, of Nantucket will have Feb. 5^th charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and leaving the scene of property damage continued without a finding for one year on the condition he complete a driver alcohol education program, forfeit his license for 45 days, pay $600 in fees, and an amount in restitution to be determined at a later date. He was found not responsible on charges of speeding and failing to stop/yield.

According to the police report, officers were on duty at 8:22 p.m. on February 5th when they were dispatched to Milk Street and Main Street for a reported vehicle rollover. When they arrived, they saw a Ford Focus that had flipped over, with parts of the vehicle scattered all over the road.

They found De Brito on the ground next to the driver's side door. After conducting a medical evaluation, they asked De Brito what happened, but he said he was unsure and could not remember the crash. Officers could smell alcohol emanating from De Brito and observed him to have glossy eyes.

One of the reporting parties met with officers and informed them that De Brito had struck his car on North Liberty Street just prior to the monument crash. The reporting party said De Brito allegedly left the scene of the accident and drove up Gardner Street towards the monument without ever trying to identify himself. The individual followed De Brito up Gardner Street and found the car flipped over.

Police estimate that De Brito was traveling 60 miles per hour in a 25-mile-per-hour speed zone. A stone pillar from the monument was launched onto Milk Street as a result of the crash.