The former head of the Massachusetts Highway Safety Division has resigned from state government after a report detailing her dismal driving record.
Sheila Burgess submitted her resignation, effective Dec. 31, in a letter Wednesday November 21st to state Public Safety Secretary Mary Beth Heffernan.
Heffernan had ordered Burgess reassigned to a different role in the agency after The Boston Globe reported that her driving record included seven accidents, four speeding violations and one failure to wear a seat belt. Burgess had been on medical leave since being injured in an August crash while driving a state vehicle.
Burgess worked in Democratic Party politics and as an aide to U.S. Rep. James McGovern before being hired as highway safety director in 2007.
Gov. Deval Patrick said that, given her driving record, hiring Burgess was a mistake.
