Cranston Man Charged for Sinking Car on Purpose while Drunk: Police

SWANSEA, MA—A 27-year-old Cranston man was charged with driving drunk after he allegedly crashed into several cars and purposely drove his Pontiac into the Lees River in Swansea on Saturday night.

Swansea police said David Cannao was out of the water by the time police and firefighters arrived. But his car was floating in the water.

In a news release, police said that Cannao “intentionally drove his vehicle into the Lees River from Bayside Avenue” and he was “responsible for several other hit-and-run crashes on parked vehicles and private property in neighboring areas.”

Cannao was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for hypothermia.

All told, Cannao was charged with driving under the influence, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident and malicious destruction of property.

Calls came in to police at around 11:29 p.m. Saturday night for a report of a car in the water at the east end of Bayside Avenue, police said.

At the end of the dead end road, officials said they found Cannao sitting on a rock and his car floating about 50 feet from shore.

Photo courtesy: Swansea Fire Department