in january 1933, minot was involved in a late night motor vehicle accident resulting in the death of one of his passengers. he crashed into a draw bridge of the charles river dam bridge, and the vehicle burned. minot was placed under arrest and charged with manslaughter. although a police officer testified that the smell of liquor was on minot's breath, he did not believe minot was under the influence, and minot was found not guilty of manslaughter.