Car Accident Leads To Fight On South Water Street, Prompting Large Police Response

A huge contingent of public safety personnel - including three Nantucket Police Department cruisers, two State Police cruisers, an ambulance, and a heavy rescue unit - responded to South Water Street Sunday evening after a minor motor vehicle accident allegedly led to a fight in front of the Dreamland Theatre. On Tuesday, one person was arraigned on criminal charges related to the incident.

Matthew R. West, 26, of Nantucket, was arraigned on May 26 charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and was ordered to return to court July 1 for a pretrial hearing.

According to the police report, West was involved in a car accident and “a disturbance” on South Water Street outside of the Dreamland Theater – prompting at least seven public safety vehicles to respond to the scene of the incident.

The Nantucket Police Department stated in the report that the investigation determined that West bumped into a motorcycle with his White Jeep at a slow rate of speed, which caused the motorcyclist to fall off and sustain minor injuries. Sources told the Current that the fight broke out after the crash and an individual allegedly punched West in the face.

West admitted to police he had consumed alcoholic beverages at an island restaurant earlier that day and back at the station, blew a .16 for his breath test.

As of Tuesday, no one else had been charged in the incident, and Nantucket Police Department Lt. Angus MacVicar has not yet responded to a Tuesday afternoon inquiry by the Current regarding the altercation.

Below is video from the scene showing the response by public safety personnel: