DA: Boston Police Officer Going 2x Speed Limit Before Horrific Crash

BOSTON (CBS) – A Boston Police officer charged with driving drunk in a crash that nearly killed a man earlier this year was speeding at more than twice the limit, prosecutors now allege.

Domemic Columbo, 39, pleaded not guilty Friday at his arraignment in Suffolk Superior Court on indictments charging him with drunk driving and assault and battery in the January 1 crash. He was released on personal recognizance.

Columbo was off-duty heading home from work when his pickup truck slammed into the back of a car at the intersection of Columbia Road and Ceylon Street in Dorchester around 3:25 a.m. Assistant District Attorney Greer Spatz told the court Columbo was going about 65 miles per hour in a 25 mph zone.  Several witnesses called 911, but Spatz said Columbo did not.

Jose Teixeira, 21, was a passenger in the car and less than a mile from his home when the crash happened. He was in a coma for two weeks and spent two months in the hospital. He told WBZ-TV he's still recovering from massive internal injuries and just two weeks ago doctors rebuilt his skull. The driver was also hurt.

Spatz said Columbo was taken to Brigham and Women's Hospital, where blood drawn at about 4:10 a.m. showed alcohol in his system. Tests indicated a blood-alcohol level between .119% and .125%.  The legal limit for driving in Massachusetts is .08%.

Columbo, a six-year veteran of the force, was put on paid administrative leave. Some are upset he has been free on personal recognizance since his original arraignment back in February.

The Suffolk District Attorney's office said earlier this year that Columbo did not receive preferential treatment, telling WBZ that prosecutors did not believe Columbo was a flight risk and that's why they didn't ask for bail.

Teixeira says he faces mounting medical bills, a daily regimen of medications and weekly therapy with more surgeries to come.

"I feel so lucky like a second life," he told WBZ's Beth Germano earlier this week. He is still hoping to return to work and to school where he wants to study to be a nurse.

Colmubo is due back in court July 25.

Boston Police Commissioner William Evans said his officer was treated as any other suspect would have been during Columbo's arrest.

"We always send a message that our officers are held to a high level of trust and respect with the neighborhoods. Unfortunately that was violated here. He's no different than anyone else, if you drink and drive you'll pay the consequences," Evans said.

"As soon as the blood alcohol level came back we moved forward with charges. There won't be any cover-up here."