Driver rescued by Vince Wilfork ‘grateful’

WRENTHAM — An alleged drunken driver rescued by New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork after a crash following the team’s AFC Championship victory wasn’t talking to reporters Tuesday, but her lawyer says she’s grateful for his help.

Mary Ellen Brooks, 38, of Hanson, who tested more than twice the limit for intoxication, initially had no idea that the massive man who pulled her from her overturned Jeep Wrangler was a Patriots football player.

Brooks’ lawyer, Arnie Lett of West Dennis, did not comment on the allegations against his client, other than to say it was her first arrest for drunken driving, but he did say she was thankful that Wilfork was there to lend a hand.

“She was very grateful that he stopped,” Lett said.

“He had a nice way about him to attend to her. She was very appreciative,” Lett said.

Brooks pleaded innocent in Wrentham District Court Tuesday to charges of drunken driving and driving to endanger.

She had a breath-alcohol test result of 0.17 percent, according to a state police report filed with the court. The legal level for intoxication is 0.08 percent in Massachusetts.

Brooks attended the game Sunday at Gillette Stadium, and told state police she drank four beers with friends before the game, three during the game and two afterward, according to the police report.

She was on her way home to Hanson around 12:45 a.m. Monday, when she drove off a 4-foot rock wall at the entrance to Motorcycles of Manchester on Route 1 in Foxboro while attempting to make a U-turn from Route 1 South to Route 1 North, the police report states.

Her 2015 Jeep Wrangler rolled over onto the driver’s side, trapping her inside until the 325-pound Wilfork stopped and pulled Brooks, weighing 175 pounds, out of the vehicle with one arm, according to state police.

The interior of the vehicle and her pants were wet, allegedly from beer that had spilled inside the vehicle, according to state police.

She was examined for injuries by emergency medical technicians but declined to be taken to a hospital.

Brooks limped as she walked to the microphone for her arraignment and had a pair of crutches with her.

The police report indicates that Brooks told troopers she believed she sprained her ankle after tripping in the Rodham Ford parking lot before she started to drive home.

Brooks walked away from reporters without comment after her arraignment.

She is free on her own recognizance and is due back in court March 19 for a pretrial hearing.


(thesunchronicle.com)