Amherst Sergeant Back on Duty after Crash

Amherst Sergeant Patrick Webster is back on duty today after a woman crashed her car into his vehicle after fleeing the scene of multiple accidents on Friday.

Cheryl Nelson, 44, of Tyngsborough, Mass. was arraigned on Monday and held on $25,000 cash bail on multiple charges from the incident. She had caused a car to rollover and clipped another car before hitting a police cruiser on Spring Road in Amherst.

Nelson had crossed the double yellow line near 505 Route 13 in Milford around 11:19 a.m. on Friday, which forced a green 2006 Escape driven by Celina Antonellis to roll over, according to court documents. Antonellis and her passenger Lindsay Werner were not injured.

“They were very fortunate,” said Milford Police captain Chris Nervik.

Nelson fled the scene and drove around the Milford Oval against the flow of traffic before heading into Amherst. Her escape ended about 10 minutes later after crashing into Webster on Spring Road.

She refused to exit her vehicle before her arrest, and pushed an officer in an attempt to escape her booking cell at the Amherst Police Department.

Amherst Police Chief Mark Reams said Webster has recovered from his minor injuries and is back on duty today. No other injuries have been reported.

Nelson has been charged with three counts of reckless conduct, DWI, reckless operation, reckless conduct, simple assault, resisting arrest or detention, conduct after an accident and disobeying an officer.

The Massachusetts woman has a probable cause hearing was scheduled for April 11. State police are currently investigating the incident.