Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Phyo Kyaw, a 2010 Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate, age 23, was killed on campus on Tuesday night after his bicycle was hit by an oil tanker. At approximately 7:40 p.m., he was riding his bicycle at the intersection of Vassar Street and Massachusetts Avenue when the oil tanker was turning from Massachusetts Avenue onto Vassar Street, towards Main Street. Kyaw was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Kyaw, from the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar, graduated from MIT in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in chemical-biological engineering. According to the MIT News Office, Kyaw was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. After he graduated, he was working as a research scientist at Soane Labs in Cambridge.

Cambridge police said that there have been 27 recorded accidents at the Massachusetts Avenue and Vassar Street intersection since January 2010. MIT Chancellor Eric Grimson commented “This death, so tragic and so close to home, touches and concerns our entire community…Our thoughts go out to Phyo Kyaw’s family, friends, and classmates. We share their sense of loss and grief.”

The Middlesex District Attorney’s office is leading the investigation into the crash and is working with the Cambridge and MIT police departments. The truck driver was uninjured in the accident and he has not been charged.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, from 2002 through 2009, approximately 400 car crashes, fatal and non-fatal, were involving cyclists. Statistics additionally reveal that more bike and car accidents happen in Cambridge more than in any other Massachusetts community. As a preventative measure to bike accidents with vehicles, MassDOT provides these helpful safety guidelines for bicyclists:

• Give yourself space from cars
• Ride in the same direction as traffic
• Always wear your helmet
• Stop at red lights and stop signs
• Put front and back lights on your bike at night

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2009 alone, 630 cyclists were killed in the United States. In addition to this, 51,000 were injured in motor vehicle traffic accidents. Cyclist deaths thus made up 2% of all motor vehicle accident fatalities. Approximately 70% of all bicycle fatalities happen in urban centers or college campuses, such as the case here, where there are more cars and bikes on the road together. The NHTSA also reports that bicycle helmets are 85% to 88% effective at preventing head injuries and death. However, the statistics show that less than 25% of all bicyclists wear a helmet.

If you have been injured or involved in a Massachusetts car or bike accident, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Massachusetts lawyer.

Sources:

Cyclist killed in Cambridge accident ID´d, The Boston Herald, December 29, 2011

MIT graduate is identified as victim in bicycle-truck collision, The Boston Globe, December 28, 2011

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Boy On Bike Hit By Police Cruiser in Avon

Fatal Hit And Run Accident in Dorchester Kills 39-Year-Old Mother

74-year-old Bicyclist Killed in Boston

Wheelchair-bound Man Struck by Oil Truck in New Bedford

Continue reading "Bicyclist Hit and Killed by Oil Tanker in Cambridge" »

A hit-and-run bicycle accident in Attleboro is under investigation. Just before 11:30 p.m. on Thursday night, a resident of Attleboro, Justin Duphilly, 20, was riding his bike on South Main Street when he was struck from behind by a vehicle that drove up onto the sidewalk and then drove off. Detective Sgt. Arthur Brillon said that the vehicle was a black sedan, which could have been a black Ford Taurus. Police are asking anyone who was near the scene of the hit-and-run accident at 456 South Main Street on Thursday night to contact the authorities.

According to authorities, Duphilly was flung into the air due to the collision and landed on the sidewalk. He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence for numerous injuries, but none were life-threatening. He was released after treatment for stitches, an abrasion on his back, a gash behind his ear, and multiple bruises.

Duphilly´s cousin was with him at the time of the accident. He was riding his bike behind Duphilly and witnessed the accident but was not injured.

Police report that the driver did not stop after hitting Duphilly and fled the scene of the accident. He continued north on South Main Street in the direction of Attleboro´s city center. Because of the nature of the accident, it is possible that the car sustained damage on the front of the vehicle which could help police to identify both the vehicle and the driver.

The accident continues to be under investigation by officers Joseph Ryan, Brett Poirier, and Sgt. James MacDonald while police search for the vehicle and driver.

The 20-year-old victim stated, "I would like to know what he was on and I want him to get caught."

According to Massachusetts General Law, Part I, Title XIV, Chapter 90, Section 24, the first offense for knowingly fleeing the scene of an accident is: "a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not less than thirty days nor more than two years, or both."

We have seen this spring and summer an increase of bicycle accidents in and around the Commonwealth. The warm weather, the expensive gas prices, and the exercise that bicycle riding provides leads to many more cyclists in the warmer seasons. In this case, the victim was very fortunate that the injuries weren’t life threatening.

The victim will still have to deal with his injuries and damage to his bicycle. There are different insurance avenues that one goes through when hit on a bicycle, and the issues become even more complex when the vehicle leaves the scene. For instance did the bicycle rider have an automobile policy, did a household member have an active insurance policy? Did anyone get the license plate of the vehicle? These among many other issues need to be identified to successfully assist someone that has been hit while riding a bike.

If you have been injured in a Massachusetts bicycle accident or involved in an accident with a bike and car, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Massachusetts bicycle accident lawyer.

Sources:

Bicyclist struck by hit-and-run car, WPRI.com, July 16, 2011

Police seek help in crash probe, The Sun Chronicle, July 16, 2011

Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title XIV, Chapter 90, Section 24

Related Blog Posts:

Boy On Bike Hit By Police Cruiser in Avon

Fatal Hit And Run Accident in Dorchester Kills 39-Year-Old Mother

Keeping Safe on the Roads; May is National Bike Safety Month

74-year-old Bicyclist Killed in Boston

Sedan Injures Boy on Bike in Lowell Traffic Accident

Continue reading "20-Year-Old Bicyclist Victim of Hit-and-Run in Attleboro" »

An accident in Avon involving a young boy and a police cruiser yesterday evening is under investigation. Anthony Charette, age 7, was riding his bicycle when he was hit by a Holbrook police officer. Charette first landed on the cruiser´s windshield and then fell into the street. He was taken to Boston Medical Center with serious injuries, but reportedly not life-threatening. He is reported to have multiple broken bones. Police report that the police cruiser was travelling at a slow speed. The boy was out with his grandmother and younger sister and had just come out of the driveway and onto the street at the time of the accident. The name of the cruiser´s driver has not yet been released.

This bike accident comes at the time of National Bike Safety Month and last week was Massaschusetts´ Bay State Bike Week, from May 14th to 20th. MassBike and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, along with several statewide departments, have created Same Roads. Same Rules., a helpful safety resource for bicyclists of all ages.

Safety guidelines for all bicyclists are to:

• Give yourself space from cars
• Ride in the same direction as traffic
• Always wear your helmet
• Stop at red lights and stop signs
• Put front and back lights on your bike at night
• Give pedestrians the right-of-way

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that children under the age of ten should not ride in the street as is recommended for older bicyclists. They recommend that the sidewalk is a safer place for a child under ten to ride their bike. The NHTSA also reports that 630 bicyclists were killed in 2009 in the U.S. and 51,000 bicyclists were additionally injured in accidents with cars.

At Altman and Altman we have been representing individuals who have been injured in bike accidents, motorcycle accidents and mo-ped accidents for over three decades. We have seen that once springtime arrives, bicyclists hit the roads after a long winter hiatus. Drivers are not often used to seeing bicyclists, which often leads to an increase bicycle accident injuries. When a bike accident occurs often times it is confusing for the cyclist. There are insurance coverage questions, lost wage issues, and bike repair bills that need to be addressed.

In addition, bicycle accidents can sometimes be catastrophic. If you have been involved in an accident, it is generally in your best interest to get a lawyer involved sooner than later. Preserving the evidence, hiring experts, bringing in accident reconstruction teams, often has to be done immediately after an accident. These types of steps among others are often needed to identify which party was at fault.

If you have been injured in a Massachusetts bicycle accident or involved in an accident with a bike and a car, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Massachusetts bicycle accident lawyer.

Sources:

Child hit by police cruiser, Fox25/ MyFoxBoston.com, May 23, 2011

Same Roads. Same Rules., MassBike.org

Bicycles, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Related Blog Posts:

Keeping Safe on the Roads; May is National Bike Safety Month

74-year-old Bicyclist Killed in Boston

SRPEDD Releases List of 100 Most Dangerous Intersections in SE Massachusetts

Sedan Injures Boy on Bike in Lowell Traffic Accident

Continue reading "Boy On Bike Hit By Police Cruiser in Avon" »

May is National Bike Safety Month. Bike fatalities and bike accidents with other vehicles plague the whole of Massachusetts in cities, on college campuses, and in rural areas alike. Because bicyclists have very little protection against cars or other large vehicles, the effects are more often than not, very severe. Unlike riding in a car, where the driver and passengers have protection such as seat belts, airbags, and other protection, bicyclists´ only protection is a helmet.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2009 alone, 630 cyclists were killed in the United States. In addition to this, 51,000 were injured in motor vehicle traffic accidents. Cyclist deaths thus made up 2% of all motor vehicle accident fatalities. Approximately 70% of all bicycle fatalities happen in urban centers where there are more cars and bikes on the road. The NHTSA also reports that bicycle helmets are 85% to 88% effective at preventing head injuries and death. However, the statistics show that less than 25% of all bicyclists wear a helmet.

Here in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike) have joined forces during National Bicycle Month to create Bay State Bike Week, from May 14th to 20th. Throughout the week, statewide events will be held to celebrate bicycle transportation and to promote bike safety.

In order to ensure a safe ride and to help prevent collisions with cars, here are some valuable safety tips:

• Always wear a helmet.
• Know the rules: just like motor vehicles, bikes must stop at stop signs and red lights, and only proceed when the light is green.
• Make sure your bike is in good condition before riding, especially if it has been neglected during the winter. Check the brakes, wheels, and tires.
• Always keep an eye out for open car doors, especially on narrow or busy streets.

If you have been involved or injured in a bicycle accident in Massachusetts, it is in your best interest to contact a Massachusetts bicycle accident lawyer.

Sources:

Bay State Bike Week, Massachusetts Department of Transportation

Bicycles, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Related Blog Posts:

74-year-old Bicyclist Killed in Boston

SRPEDD Releases List of 100 Most Dangerous Intersections in SE Massachusetts

Sedan Injures Boy on Bike in Lowell Traffic Accident

Continue reading "Keeping Safe on the Roads; May is National Bike Safety Month" »

Police have confirmed that a man was killed Monday morning in a collision with a car near the corner of Tremont and Arlington streets in the South End of Boston. The white sedan hit the man while he was on his bike, facing in a direction where the solar glare can cause problems for drivers at that time of day. The driver was interviewed by police and was not cited as of Tuesday.

“It is sad to get such a vivid reminder that despite the good progress our city has made on bicycle safety in recent years, crashes like this can still happen,’’ said Pete Stidman, director of the Boston Cyclists Union, which advocates for rider safety.

Stidman said he recently was hit by a car on Dorchester Avenue, but was unscathed. He said it is important for cyclists to report such accidents.

“I talk to cyclists all the time and remind them to report to police or the city whenever they’re involved in an accident because we need to know where the accidents are happening in order to fix the problem,’’ he said.

Source:
Bicyclist, 74, killed in South End collision, Boston Globe, January 25, 2011

Continue reading "74-year-old Bicyclist Killed in Boston" »

David Weaving, a 48-year-old Connecticut man who struck and killed a 14-year-old bicyclist, is suing the child’s parents for letting the child ride without a helmet. It is a countersuit to a filing by the family alleging negligence. Both Weaving and the family are seeking more than $15,000 in damages.

Weaving is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for manslaughter.

According to prosecutors, the fatal crash occurred when Weaving passed a car at more than 80 mph in a 45 mph zone. Weaving asserts that he was driving at the speed limit. Weaving was previously convicted of drunk driving four times before the crash.

Source: The Boston Herald, Driver in fatal crash sues victim’s parents over boy’s lack of helmet

Continue reading "Driver in Fatal Connecticut Car Accident Sues Victim's Parents " »

On Monday, a traffic accident in Lowell, Massachusetts sent a 12-year-old boy with the hospital with serious head injuries. The boy was riding his bike when Williard Street around 2pm when he was reportedly hit by a red Sedan. Witnesses said the boy went flying and the car crash sounded like two vehicles colliding.

Police said the bike accident victim was airlifted from the scene of the bike accident to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The victim was not wearing a bike helmet and sustained serious head and neck injuries.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the Lowell bike accident.

Source: Boy struck by car while riding his bike in Lowell, WHDH.com, August 30, 2010

Continue reading "Sedan Injures Boy on Bike in Lowell Traffic Accident" »

A Lynn man was seriously injured when the moped which he was operating was struck by an allegedly drunk driver. The collision took place at the intersection of North Street and Liberty Hill Avenue in Salem at approximately 1:30 a.m. this past Saturday morning.

Following the accident, the driver of the moped was transported to North Shore Medical Center before being transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

The operator of the moped was struck by an allegedly drunk Peabody woman driving a Volkswagen Passat. Police reported that they smelled an odor of alcohol on the 25-year-old driver’s breath and that her speech was slurred and her eyes were both bloodshot and glassy.

Continue reading "Moped Rider Seriously Injured Following Collision with an Alleged Drunk Driver" »

On Tuesday afternoon, a Melrose bicyclist was killed in a truck accident on Martha’s Vineyard near downtown Vineyard Haven. According to Massachusetts state police, the 40-year-old woman lost control of her bike, falling into the path of an 18-wheeler.

She was riding her bike westbound on the sidewalk along State Road with a group of cyclists. At the same time, a tractor trailer was also traveling west on the same road. She reportedly last control as the truck passed her.

The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the traffic accident at roughly 2pm. The road was closed for about three hours during the preliminary investigation. Authorities are still investigating why she lost control of her bike, and no charges have been filed.

Sources: Melrose Bicyclist Dies In Vineyard Truck Accident, Melrose.Patch.com, July 7, 2010

Bicyclist killed on State Road in Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard Times, July 7, 2010

Continue reading "Martha’s Vineyard Truck Accident Kills Bicyclist" »

Monday marked the start of Bay State Bike Week, and the annual event kicked off on a somber note after a Colorado man died in a Newton bike accident near city hall. Police said the 21-year-old bicyclist collided with a 2007 Honda SUV after the bicyclist ran a red light. The man was not wearing a helmet.

As part of Bay State Bike Week, bicyclists gathered on Tuesday for a previously schedule “Ride of Silence” to memorialize bicyclists who have been killed or injured in the past year. A spokesperson for MassBike predicted that this year’s “Ride of Silence” would be especially poignant in light of this recent bike fatality and several others. Cyclists rode from Seven Hills Park in Somerville through Cambridge and Boston, stopping at the Charles Street Entrance to Boston Common. The man's coworkers were also planning a candlelight vigil.

The mayor of Newton said the town’s transportation advisory committee is examining transportation issues, including pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Source: Friends plan candlelight vigil tonight to remember bicyclist killed in Newton accident, Boston.com, May 18, 2010

Continue reading "Man Dies in Newton Bike Accident" »

A group of Brookline school children have approached the town's transportation administration about creating stricter fines for drivers parked in bike lanes. Currently, Brookline issues $25 "double parking" tickets to cars parked in bike lanes, but there isn't a steeper fine to protect the bike lanes. According to the websites for Boston and Cambridge, those cities each have $100 fines for cars parked in marked bike lanes.

Cars parked in bike lanes can pose a safety risk to bicyclists, who are forced to maneuver around parked cars or in traffic. Just a few weeks ago, a 22-year-old bicyclist died after being hit by an MBTA bus. While bicycle activists say that traffic fatalities are rare, they point out that it's very common to see motorists parked in bike lanes while they drop someone off or make a delivery.

Almost 700 bicyclists died in traffic accidents in 2007, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Ten of those fatalities were in Massachusetts.

Source: Brookline kids pitch fine for parking in bike lanes, WickedLocal.com, April 14, 2010

Continue reading "Brookline Students Rally for Stepping Up Bike Lane Parking Fines" »

Last week's bus accident, which killed a 22-year-old bicyclist from Mission Hill, highlights the dangers of biking around congested city streets. It has also spurred Boston cyclists to fight for better safety measures.

Fatal bike accidents are not common in Massachusetts. In fact, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles reports that out of the more than 700 cycling accidents in 2008, only 10 resulted in fatalities.

However, cyclists say that drivers ignore them the road and that trolley tracks, particularly those on Huntington Avenue, where cyclists must pedal through traffic, pose a safety threat.

Transit authorities are still investigating the recent bus accident but say there is no evidence that the cyclist's wheels got stuck in the trolley tracks.

Source: Cyclists urging safety measures after fatal crash, Boston Globe, April 9, 2010

Continue reading "After Fatal Accident, Boston Cyclists Fight for Better Safety" »

On Wednesday evening, a bus accident near the intersection of South Huntington and Huntington Avenues killed a 23-year-old bicyclist. According to reports, the man's bicycle had gotten stuck in the Green Line trolley tracks and he was hit by a Route 39 bus while trying to free it. The MBTA bus accident victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Witnesses say the accident happened so quickly that neither the bicyclist nor the bus driver had time to react. The driver, who is 29-year-old and has no record of safety or traffic violations, had about 150 feet to react.

As a result of the fatal bus accident, police down shut Huntington Avenue and other streets in the surrounding area so that accident reconstruction teams could investigate. Passengers on the E line rode buses between the Brigham Circle and Heath Street stations, as Green Line service was temporarily suspended.

Source: MBTA Bus Hits, Kills Bicyclist, TheBostonChannel.com, April 7, 2010

Continue reading "Bicyclist Hit, Killed in MBTA Bus Accident" »

In Swansea, Massachusetts on Tuesday, a 15-year-old high school student was seriously injured after colliding with a car and being hit by a bus.

Police say the teen bicyclist was wearing headphones and carrying an iPod as he traveled east on Hinsdale Avenue. He then biked into the intersection and a collided with a car, hitting the windshield and falling onto the street, where he was hit by a school bus. The school bus was bringing children home after school and reportedly ran over one of the bicyclist's legs.

He was listed in serious condition earlier today. The Massachusetts State Police and Swansea police are still investigating the bike accident.

Source: Teen bicyclist in serious condition after Swansea accident, Providence Journal, March 10, 2010

Continue reading "Somerset Teen Seriously Injured in Traffic Accident" »

Earlier this week, a Massachusetts bicycle rider suffered serious injuries after being hit by a car in Stoughton Center. As of Tuesday, police were still attempting to confirm the identity of the injured bicyclist, but they did say he is believed to be a Stoughton man in his late thirties.

The accident occurred at 9:35pm Monday evening near Washington Street and Railroad Avenue. According to police, the man was transported to Good Samaritan in Brockton. He was later flown to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

The bike accident is still under investigation.

Source: Bike rider struck by car, seriously hurt, The Patriot Ledger, February 16, 2010

Continue reading "Car Accident in Stoughton Seriously Injures Bicyclist" »

On Saturday morning, a 16-year-old student at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute was hit by a car as she rode her bike. According to police, the bike accident occurred at 11:13am when an 81-year-old driver turned left onto Washington Street from Boston Street and failed to stop in time to avoid hitting the bicyclist.

The bike accident victim was initially diagnosed with a severely sprained ankle but was later taken to Massachusetts General Hospital to be checked for a possible head injury. Her father told reporters that his daughter suffered a fractured skull. She was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

Police who responded to the call did not issue a citation to the driver, though records from the Registry of Motor Vehicles show he was cited for failure to stop in 1984.

Lynn bicyclist hit by elderly driver, The Daily Item, October 7, 2009

Continue reading "Lynn Teen Injured in Bike Accident " »

Last week, a dirt bike rider in Carver, Massachusetts lost control of his vehicle and suffered serious injuries. The 22-year-old dirt bike rider reportedly hit a trench, causing his bike to flip end over end. When emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene of the bike accident, they found the victim unconscious and unresponsive. He suffered serious head injuries.

The injured dirt bike rider was transferred to Jordan Hospital and later flown to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where his condition was listed as serious.

According to the property owner, the two dirt bike riders were illegally trespassing on his property. The Massachusetts Environmental Police are responsible for investigation all ATV-related accidents and plan to investigate this dirt bike accident.

Dirt bike rider injured on cranberry bog, WickedLocal.com, September 24, 2009

Continue reading "Carver Dirt Bike Accident Injures One " »

According to the Boston Globe, a 19-year-old bicyclist was injured after colliding with a U-Haul van last week. The bike accident occurred in Newton near Walnut Street and Lakewood Road last Tuesday morning around 9:51am.

The name of the accident victim was not released by police, but she was transported by ambulance to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital and treated for multiple injuries. She was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. There is no crosswalk in that area, so the bicyclist was not in a crosswalk.

The cause of the bike accident is still under investigation, and the 27-year-old driver of the U-Haul van has not been charged.

Bicyclist, 19, injured in crash with U-Haul, Boston Globe, September 1, 2009

Continue reading "Bicyclist Injured After Colliding with U-Haul Van " »

Last Sunday afternoon, a Norwell woman was injured in a bike accident at the North Main Street grade crossing in Cohasset. According to police, it appears that the woman did not use the "jug handle" that directs bicyclists around the crossing so they can avoid crossing the tracks at a right angle.

The woman's bike tires reportedly got stuck in the gap between the rail and the road, causing her to fall off her bike. When police arrived at the scene of the accident, they found in the middle of the northbound lane of North Main just beyond the grade crossing. The injured cyclist was on her back and complained of pain in her arm and her head. The MBTA stopped the train for a period following the bike accident.

The woman was with another cyclist and both bikes were taken to the station and held for sakekeeping until they could be picked up. There were several other bicycle accidents in the same location before changes were made at the grade crossing.

COHASSET POLICE / Bike accident at N. Main St. crossing, WickedLocal.com, August 13, 2009

Continue reading "Norwell Woman Lands in the Hospital After Bike Accident" »

Boston is a notoriously difficult city for motorists and cyclists to coexist. Drivers sometimes “door” bikers as they glide by, and SUVs pose an especially dangerous safety threat to bikes, Alex Tee thinks he may have the solution. The cyclist and mechanical engineer is working on creating a bring-your-own bike lane, which would be fashioned out of lasers.

Cyclists would mount the device, called LightLane, under their bicycle seat, boosting visibility to nighttime drivers and marking the turf around the bike. The more conventional “blinky lights” highlight the center of the bike, so motorists still sometimes clip the handlebars.

Tee is collaborating with Evan Gant, an industrial designer, and the pair is trying out different colors and orientations for the lasers. They plan to have their product ready for the Interbike bicycle trade show in Providence next fall.

A bring-your-own bike lane, created by lasers, February 16, 2009, The Boston Globe

Continue reading "Bring-Your-Own Bike Lane May Help Boston Cyclists" »

On Saturday evening, a Massachusetts man was hurt in a motorcycle crash on Route 44 in North Canaan. According to the accident report, Charles Pickert, of Ashley Falls, was riding his 1982 Harley Davidson when he veered off the westbound shoulder. He continued traveling west and tipped his motorcycle on its left side around 5:45pm.

The 47-year-old suffered head and face lacerations and was taken by LifeStar to Hartford Hospital. His motorcycle sustained heavy damage and had to be towed by Arnold’s.

According to the motorcycle accident report, an arrest is pending. The accident continues to be under investigation.

Man hurt in motorcycle crash, The Register Citizen, November 30, 2008

Continue reading "Ashley Falls Man Injured in Motorcycle Accident " »

According to an information officer for the Uxbridge, Massachusetts police, a local teen was injured after crashing his Dad’s all-terrain vehicle on Monday. The 16-year old was driving past Mill Street when he hit a tree. The teen and his passenger, also 16, were not wearing helmets at the time of the ATV accident.

The passenger was treated and released from UMass-Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. The driver is listed in stable condition at UMass Memorial Hospital. Police would not release names, as they are both minors.

Police do not suspect that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the ATV crash, but they may press charges because operating an ATV on a public road is illegal. Recreational vehicles are not permitted on public roads. They are only allowed on the driver’s own property or on private property with the consent of the property owner.

For information on the safe use and operation of recreational vehicles, visit the website of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Police.

ATV crash lands teen in hospital, Milford Daily News, November 18, 2008

Continue reading "Uxbridge Teen Injured After ATV Crash" »

Last Friday afternoon, a Massachusetts couple was injured in a motorcycle and SUV collision at the intersection of Route 13 and Purgatory Road. According to police, the driver of the SUV and her passengers were not injured. The pair on motorcycles, Tracy and Lisa Talbert, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, were taken to South New Hampshire Medical Center.

Although the condition of the two cyclists from Massachusetts was unknown over the weekend, witnesses say they were wearing helmets and were not speeding, which may have saved their lives.

Witness Scott Chausee said he was riding southbound on Route 13 behind the Talberts when the traffic collision occurred. Chausee was not wearing a helmet at the time and believes that if he had been riding in front of the Talberts and had been hit by the SUV, then he would have been killed. “Maybe this was my wake-up call,” he told the Nashua Telegraph.

Police said they do not suspect speed, drugs, and alcohol were involved in the SUV collision.

Motorcycle, SUV collide, two injured, Nashua Telegraph, October 11, 2008

Continue reading "Motorcycle and SUV Collision Injures Massachusetts Couple" »

A Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus hit a Boston University student earlier this month. Officials from the BU Police Department said this is the second incident involving a student and a cycling accident in two days.

An 18-year-old male student was cycling along Commonwealth Avenue outside of Boston University’s Fitness and Recreation Center when he was struck from behind by the MBTA bus on its front right side. The bus accident victim complained of back pain and was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

There are no bike lanes in that part of Commonwealth Avenue. The Boston Police Department plans to investigate the cycling accident along with the MBTA Transit Police.

FitRec the site of second cycling accident this week, Daily Free Press, September 18, 2008

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