Lt. governor survives icy car crash

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STERLING, Mass., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Tim Murray survived an early morning car crash, totaling a Ford Crown Victoria state police cruiser worth $35,000.

Driving experts say the Wednesday morning crash could have been prevented, The Boston Herald reported.

"Usually by the time a car rolls over, there are a series of mistakes that have been made," said Mark Cox, the director of the Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steamboat Springs, Colo. "Things can happen quite fast and dramatically."

Murray insists he wasn't speeding or under the influence of alcohol. He requested a Breathalyzer test and blew under a 0.00.

Murray said he lost control of the vehicle on an icy patch of highway in Sterling, Mass., which sent him off the highway, through the shoulder and into a rocky ledge.

"I'm doing all right," said Murray. "We're back to work."

Murray was driving to survey storm damage, he said. He crashed as he was heading back to his Worcester, Mass., home and was found at 5:26 a.m. by the first state trooper dispatched to the scene.

"It's not uncommon sometimes for me to wake up early ... to maybe go out and grab a coffee, return some e-mails, make a phone call or two, pick up The Boston Herald, which does not deliver to Worcester as far as I know," said Murray.

The lieutenant governor has five prior incidents on his driving record.