Cape Cod Middle School Assistant Principal Facing Third OUI Charge After Driving Into Oncoming Traffic in Boston

Dennis-Yarmouth Middle School Assistant Principal Holly Burns, 44, faces a third operating under the influence of liquor charge after arrests in 2018 in Plymouth and 2019 in Duxbury

BOSTON, Mass. — A Cape Cod school administrator is facing serious legal charges after police say she drove into oncoming traffic in downtown Boston over the summer while under the influence of alcohol.

Holly Burns, 44, of Plymouth, the assistant principal at Dennis-Yarmouth Middle School, was arrested on the night of August 9 by Boston police. She was arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on August 10 and charged with a third offense of operating under the influence (OUI) of liquor, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and driving the wrong way on a one-way street.

Erratic Driving in Downtown Boston

According to police reports, officers first spotted Burns driving her white Jeep Grand Cherokee in the wrong direction against oncoming traffic on Kneeland Street, near South Station and Chinatown. The vehicle forced oncoming traffic to swerve out of the way.

Police report that Burns then put the vehicle in reverse, backing up against traffic, before turning down a one-way street. When officers activated their lights and siren, Burns nearly collided with a police cruiser before pulling over.

Upon approaching the vehicle, officers reported a strong smell of alcohol, noticing that Burns had slurred speech and glossy eyes. Inside the Jeep, officers observed an open, spilled can of Miller Lite beer, along with a package of THC gummies and a small bottle of THC liquid. Burns refused to perform field sobriety tests or submit to a breathalyzer test at the scene.

Prior Offenses and Potential Felony Status

Under Massachusetts law, a third OUI charge carries stiffer penalties and is prosecuted as a felony.

Court records show that Burns has a history of similar charges:

• 2018 (Plymouth): Arrested for OUI; the charge was ultimately dismissed after a probation period.
• 2019 (Duxbury): Arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to a second-offense OUI charge.

At her August 10 arraignment, Burns pleaded not guilty to the current charges. She was released on personal recognizance and is scheduled to return to court on December 4 for a pretrial hearing.

District Response

In a statement regarding her employment status, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District Superintendent Marc Smith confirmed that the district conducted an internal investigation following the arrest. Burns remains employed with the school district.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As parents, we trust local administrators with the safety and well-being of our children every single day. The allegations facing Dennis-Yarmouth Middle School Assistant Principal Holly Burns raise serious concerns for our community—leaving families to ask: Is this who we want entrusted with our children’s care?