Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

The Massachusetts State Police are currently on the lookout for a hit-and-run driver that struck a police cruiser and injured a civilian. The accident occurred on I-395 in Chicopee early Saturday morning.

A state police trooper was stooped on the side of the Chicopee stretch of the highway near exit 4 assisting a motorist with a flat tire. A few moments later, as the motorist stood by the driver’s side window of the state police cruiser speaking with the trooper, an SUV swerved into the breakdown lane on I-395, colliding with not only the state police cruiser, but also the pedestrian standing at the window.

Following the accident, the SUV fled the scene of the crash. Police have described the SUV as being light in color and it will likely have heavy front-end damage as the result of the accident.

Continue reading "Hit-and-run Driver Collides with a Police Cruiser, Injuring a Civilian" »

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" »

Saturday morning, a police chase that began in Chelsea resulted in the deaths of two individuals in Revere. The preliminary investigation states that the suspect was being pursued by the Chelsea Police Department prior to the collision.

The two vehicles collided when the driver, who was fleeing from the police moments before, ran a red light and struck a vehicle driven by a 65-year-old Revere man.

Following the crash, which occurred at the intersection of Revere Parkway and Route 145, both drivers were ejected from their cars. One of the men was pronounced dead at the scene while the other was pronounced dead at Whidden Memorial Hospital in Everett.

Continue reading "Two Killed in high-speed collision in Revere " »

Earlier this month, the mayor of Quincy, Massachusetts signed an ordinance to bill insurance companies if you’re at fault in an motor vehicle accident and the fire fighters respond. The insurance company would be billed for the cost of the fire department’s response.

Mayor Thomas Koch says the city needs to find cost-effective ways to provide the services that people expect. He adds that if your vehicle hits a light pole insurance companies already gets billed for the cost of replacing the light pole, so this measure is an extension of that.

Not surprisingly, this decision is unpopular among car insurance companies, who say it adds an unnecessary fee which could get passed onto Massachusetts motorists in the form of higher premiums. Huntington Beach, California has adopted a similar law.

Sources: Quincy will bill for car crashes, NECN.com, August 20, 2010

First California, Now Massachusetts, Accident Taxes Appear Nationwide, Out of the Storm News, August 23, 2010

Injured on the road? Our Massachusetts auto accident lawyers can help guide you the through the accident claims process and explain your legal options.

An 81-year-old Beverly Farms woman operating a Honda Civic collided with a 14-wheel trash truck around noon yesterday afternoon. The operator of the Honda crossed the center line on Hart Street in Beverly and was struck by the truck as a result.

The local authorities have stated the victim of the crash lost consciousness following the accident and was taken by ambulance to Beverly hospital following the administration of CPR by firefighters at the scene of the crash.

According to the Beverly Police Department, the operator of the Honda was conscious and talking to rescue workers immediately after the crash, but lost consciousness moments after the firefighters arrived. The rescue workers utilized a portable defibrillator to try and revive the woman. Beverly Hospital reported that the 81-year-old woman passed away yesterday afternoon as a result of the injuries which she sustained in the crash.

The trash truck was being operated by a 47-year-old Rockport man when the accident occurred. The driver of the trash truck sustained a minor wrist injury in the collision. The truck belongs to a Peabody hauling and recycling company.

Continue reading "14 -wheel Trash Truck Collides with Honda Civic in Beverly, Killing the Driver" »

According to authorities, a rising senior and lacrosse player at Newton North High School died in a one-car crash on Monday evening. The 17-year-old male could not be revived by emergency response teams after his car hit a tree. The motor vehicle accident reportedly occurred at 9:46pm on Bellevue Street in Newton.

He was remembered as a talented athlete who made the varsity lacrosse team his sophomore year. He had also worked as a camp counselor at the Garden City lacrosse camp.

The cause of the fatal car crash is still being investigated.

Source: Newton North High School student dies in crash, Boston.com, August 24, 2010

Continue reading "Single Vehicle Crash Kills Newton Teen" »

This past week, a four vehicle car accident occurred on Route 2 in Lexington. The accident occurred around 2:30 p.m., when a vehicle headed eastbound crossed over the median into oncoming westbound traffic.

The vehicle then collided head –on with three automobiles driving in the westbound lanes on Route 2. The accident occurred at a high rate of speed. The driver of the vehicle which crossed the median and struck the other cars was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to state police, another individual involved in the accident was in “very bad shape” and was transported to the hospital for treatment of the injuries sustained in the collision. Reportedly, all but one of the people involved in the four-car accident were transported to the hospital. The one individual that was not taken to the hospital was able to walk and was treated at the scene.

Continue reading "Several Injured and One Killed Following a Four Vehicle Car Crash in Lexington " »

Our Boston car crash lawyers have learned that on Friday afternoon, two women were killed in separate accidents. In Westford, Massachusetts, a 23-year-old pedestrian from Franklin was hit in the high-speed lane of Route 485. The pedestrian accident occurred at 3:48am, shutting down all three lanes of traffic for more than three hours.

According to investigators, the woman was struck by at least one vehicle near Exist 32. They are unclear on why she was walking in the traffic lane. Her identity was not released to the media pending notification of the victim’s family.

In the second accident, a 1995 Toyota T100 pickup truck rolled over on Route 24 North in Stoughton, killing a Fall River woman and seriously injuring her passenger. A statement released by police said that the driver may have fallen asleep behind the wheel. The accident occurred at 2:13am. Emergency response and crash reconstruction teams shut down all southbound lanes and two northbound lanes until 4:40am.

Source: Two killed in separate highway accidents, Boston Herald, August 13, 2010

Contact the Boston personal injury law firm of Altman & Altman if you have lost a loved one to a motor vehicle accident.

Last Friday afternoon, a man driving a blue Buick sedan rear-ended a couple driving in a Toyota as they were making a left turn onto Tisdale Street in Leominster. Two of the individuals were rushed to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester with life threatening injuries. The third individual involved in the accident was taken to HealthAliiance Hospital in Leominster for treatment.

The local fire department used the Jaws of Life to rescue the couple trapped inside of the Toyota. Unfortunately, the couple was unable to be airlifted from the scene since all of the helicopters operating out of surrounding Worcester and Boston were tied up. As a result, the injured couple was transported to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester by ambulance.

Police stated that the driver of the blue Buick sedan will be charged with operating under the influence of liquor, operating a motor vehicle negligently, a marked lanes violation and speeding.

Continue reading "Three Injured in Leominster Car Accident " »

An 80-year-old driver was injured yesterday when his car struck a utility pole before coming to rest on the lawn of a Quincy home. The car accident occurred around 11 a.m. on Beal Street. The driver had to be removed from his Buick LeSabre by rescue workers utilizing the Jaws of Life.

The operator of the vehicle, a resident of nearby Milton, is currently in fair condition at Boston Medical Center. The man reportedly suffered head trauma in the collision. The Quincy Police stated that the lack of skid marks at the scene indicate that there was no attempt made by the driver to stop the vehicle. The authorities further stated that the 80-year-old driver likely suffers from a medical condition which caused him to veer off the road.

Witnesses reported that the LeSabre jumped a curb, hit a utility pole and then struck the hedges on the front lawn of a Beal Street home. Fortunately, the vehicle did not collide with any of the pedestrians that were walking along the street at the time of the accident.

Continue reading "80-Year-Old Driver Injured Following Quincy Car Crash onto Front Lawn of Home" »

The MA personal injury attorneys at Altman & Altman have been made aware of a fatal accident this morning on route 495 in Westford. An unidentified woman was walking along the highway when she was struck and killed by a 2009 Toyota RAV SUV. The vehicle was operated by a Lowell resident whose name has not been released by the local authorities.

The pedestrian accident caused all three northbound lanes of Route 495 to be shut down for over two hours. A preliminary investigation has shown that the pedestrian was possibly struck by multiple vehicles, including the Toyota SUV.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an automobile accident, please contact the attorneys at the law firm of Altman & Altman for an initial consultation free of charge. Our firm has successfully handled thousands of car accident cases and our lawyers are available to answer all of your questions and help to put your mind to rest.

Continue reading "Franklin Pedestrian Killed by SUV on 495 in Westford" »

Earlier today, a motor vehicle accident in Somerville sent both drivers involved to the hospital. According to police, a box truck and an SUV collided near the intersection of Mystic Avenue and McGrath Highway around 8:22am.

Somerville Police and Fire departments responded to the accident. The driver of the Toyota Highlander reportedly suffered serious injuries. Both injured motorists were transported to Massachusetts General Hospital.

The road has since reopened to traffic, but the cause of the auto accident remains under investigation by members of the accident reconstruction team.

Source: Crash injures two in Somerville, Boston Herald, August 12, 2010

Continue reading "Two-Vehicle Crash in Somerville Injures Drivers" »

Our Boston car accident lawyers have learned that a Lynn man is charged with leaving the scene of personal injury, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, motor vehicle lights violation, unregistered motor vehicle, uninsured motor vehicle, failure to stop and or yield, crosswalk violation, number plate violation and failure to appear upon recognizance. He allegedly hit another vehicle and injured a pedestrian on Monday evening as officers pursued him.

The motorist reportedly jumped out of the 1995 Honda Civic he was driving and attempted to flee the scene before being caught by several officers. Police also tended to the 22-year-old pedestrian accident victim, who sustained serious injuries and was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital.

The driver was arraigned at Lynn District Court and ordered held in lieu of $20,000 cash bail. His pre-trail hearing is scheduled for early September.

Source: Driver arraigned after accident injures pedestrian, The Daily Item of Lynn, August 11. 2010

Continue reading "Lynn Driver Accused of Injuring Pedestrian" »

Two sisters from Revere were rescued from their 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass after their vehicle rolled over the Fox Hill Bridge on Route 107 in Lynn. The vehicle is thought to have struck an angled concrete barrier at the end of the bridge which caused the Oldsmobile to flip.

Three Lynn men are being credited for rescuing the women from the car, which slid down the road on its roof until coming to a stop. The men witnessed the accident as they were fishing nearby.

One of the witnesses rushed to the car, kicked in the passenger side window, and pulled one of the sisters from the wreck. The men then attempted to remove the second victim, but had a difficult time.

Following the arrival of rescue workers, one of the sisters was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment of her head injuries which she sustained in the crash. The woman is currently listed in stable condition. The other passenger in the vehicle was taken to Salem Hospital where she was treated and released for her injuries.

Continue reading "Revere Sisters Pulled From Rollover Accident in Lynn" »

Our Boston car accident lawyers have learned that on Saturday, an 86-year-old woman drove off the road in a marina and into the water. Witnesses immediately dove into the water and rescued the woman from her submerged car. According to the woman’s daughter, she will be fine.

The New Bedford auto accident is still being investigated.

Source: 86-yr-old woman rescued from submerged car, ABCLocal.Go.com, August 8, 2010

The Massachusetts motor vehicle accident firm of Altman & Altman, LLP have over fifty years of experience in handling accident claims. We have successfully litigated and negotiated millions of dollars in insurance claims and jury awards. Contact us to discuss your case.

This morning at 9:21 a.m., a pickup truck slammed into a tractor-trailer that was stopped in the breakdown lane on the eastbound side of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Grafton, causing a six-mile backup.

The operator of the Toyota Tundra Pickup truck was airlifted from the accident to a nearby hospital. State Police are reporting that the driver has suffered serious injuries. Following the collision, State Police crime scene and accident reconstruction experts investigated the scene.

Earlier today, the same stretch of the Mass Pike was closed due to a tractor trailer fire. The tractor trailer, which was hauling corn, erupted into flames a mile away from where the later collision occurred. Police are currently investigating both accidents.

Continue reading "Driver Airlifted to Hospital Following a Mass Pike Accident in Grafton" »

On Sunday afternoon, a traffic accident in Newburyport, Massachusetts injured three people. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. Authorities are investigating the minivan accident to find out why the 91-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle just after the Yankee Homecoming Parade.

A husband and wife were hit as they crossed High Street. They were in a cross walk. The wife was listed in serious but stable condition at a local hospital, and the husband was treated and released from the hospital. A third person was hit by the minivan but refused medical attention.

It’s unclear whether the car crash was caused by driver error or a mechanical issue, so investigator inspected the vehicle earlier this week for possible accelerator problems.

Source: Police continue to investigate Sunday's minivan accident, WickedLocal.com, August 2

Continue reading "Newburyport Minivan Accident Under Investigation" »

A 23-year old passenger was killed in Lynn when a flat bed tow truck struck the Honda Civic he was riding in from behind. The two remaining occupants of the Honda Civic who were riding in the front seat were taken to Salem Hospital for treatment of their injuries.

The accident occurred at 4:32 pm on the southbound side of the Lynnway at the Harding Street red-light. The occupants of the Civic were stopped at a red-light when the impact occurred.

Following the collision, both the tow truck, which was owned and operated by a Revere towing company, and the Honda Civic caught fire. The operator of the flat bed tow truck was not injured and has not been charged by the local police. Authorities are currently investigating the incident.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact the experienced attorneys at the law firm of Altman & Altman for an initial consultation free of charge.

Source: Tow truck rear-ends car, killing passenger, The Boston Globe, July 31, 2010

Our Massachusetts traffic accident attorneys have learned that a report released by the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District examines 23 of the region’s most car accident-prone intersections. Eight of those are in Fall River.

The report was released last week, and it shows that 28% of traffic accidents at the intersection of Davol Street and President Avenue are the result of drivers running red lights.

Although the city does not have plans to add red light cameras at the eight intersections named in the report, the town’s Director of Community Maintenance said that may be the answer to preventing car crashes.

Source: Report: Eight city intersections run a higher risk for accidents, The Herald News, July 29, 2010

Continue reading "Study Finds Fall River Has Eight Intersections With Higher Car Accident Risk" »

Last week, Massachusetts police announced plans to crack down on impaired drivers in an effort to reduce the number of car accidents involving state troopers. So far this year, 87 officers have been killed in the line across the country. More than half of those were in Massachusetts. Four recent traffic accidents have involved troopers who were making a traffic stop or working a construction detail. Ten police cruisers have been hit by drunk drivers this year.

In response to the recent rise in roadway accidents involving troopers, the department will be examining procedures and comparing those to departments in other states. There is no national standard for police lights and markers, but there have been studies to measure the effectiveness of different lighting systems.

The state is also launching a driving safety awareness campaign and stepping up efforts against drunk driving. Four extra patrols have been added on Fridays and Saturdays in each of Massachusetts’ five geographical areas. The effort, called Operation Lighting, has led to the arrest of two dozen alleged drunk drivers and will continue through the summer.

Source: Impaired drivers are put on notice, Boston Globe, July 23, 2010

Continue reading "Following Car Crashes, Massachusetts Troopers Step Up Enforcement" »

On Sunday morning, a hit-and-run accident injured a 32-year-old Massachusetts state trooper while he was protecting a fellow officer no Route 128 south. The car accident occurred in Peabody around 2am. The trooper was taken to Union Hospita in Lyn, where he was treated for a leg injury.

The driver fled the scene of the motor vehicle accident and faces charges including leaving the scene of an accident causing bodily injury, negligent driving, and failing to obey the move-over law.

A separate incident killed a 52-year-old sergeant on a construction detail on Interstate 95 in Attleboro. Since troopers are frequently killed or injured on Massachusetts roads and highways, authorities urge drivers to follow the move-over law and to report any damaged gray or silver sedans that may have been involved with Sunday’s hit-and-run.

Source: Trooper struck on highway, Boston Herald, July 5, 2010

Continue reading "Massachusetts Lawyers Discuss Accident Involving Trooper " »

In Northampton, several recent car accidents have involved bears crossing the street. On April 30, a bear cub was badly injured by a vehicle on Florence Road, and environmental police had to put the cub down.

Two other auto accidents occurred this week. One accident occurred on Monday afternoon, when a green mini-van hit a small bear. The second motor vehicle accident occurred Tuesday evening when a cub crossed the path of a vehicle traveling west. In both cases, the drivers were not injured, though the second driver’s vehicle suffered over $1,000 in front-end damage.

A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Research unit at the University of Massachusetts said there are roughly 3,000 bears statewide, and cubs are especially at risk for injury because of their inexperience. He adds that the best way to avoid a car crash involving a bear is to drive more slowly, especially on winding road.

Source: Collisions grow as bears adapt, MassLive.com, July 1, 2010

Continue reading "Massachusetts Bear Population Poses Hazard to Drivers" »

On Wednesday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted almost unanimously to approve a transportation bill that would ban texting while driving for all Bay State drivers and impose stricter licensing requirements on older drivers. If the bill passes, the state would join 28 others and the District of Columbia that have already banned texting while driving.

This legislation comes on the heels of several Massachusetts motor vehicle accidents involving older drivers. The proposed bill would mandate that drivers 75 and older apply in person at the Registry of Motor Vehicles and pass a vision test every five years. It would also prohibit motorists under 18 from using cell phones in any short or form while driving.

Next stop for this traffic bill is the Senate.

Source: Massachusetts House passes bill to ban all drivers from texting while driving, MassLive.com, June 23, 2010

Continue reading "Texting Bill Moves to Massachusetts Senate" »

Earlier this week, a Massachusetts man called state police a few hours after being involved in a serious car accident, saying he thought he was somewhere in Massachusetts. Police tracked his call to Manchester, New Hampshire and discovered his car 70 feet from the road.

When emergency response crews arrived at the scene of the auto accident, they found the car accident victim alert, but they air-lifted him to Boston Medical Center so he could be checked for internal injuries.

They have not determined the cause of the motor vehicle accident, but they are still investigating. Speed and alcohol may have been contributing factors.

Source: Massachusetts Man Crashes In Woods In Manchester, WMUR.com, June 21, 2010

Continue reading "Tewksbury Man Injured in Serious Car Crash" »

Last week, a head-on collision on Route 23 between a Toyota and a tractor-trailer sent a Lenox, Massachusetts women to the hospital. Police said the 2008 Toyota was traveling east on Route 23 when the vehicle crossed the median and hit a westbound tractor-trailer.

Both vehicles were totaled, but the tractor-trailer driver was not injured. He was cited for falsifying his driving log. The injured Toyota driver was taken to Berkshire Medical Center.

The motor vehicle accident caused authorities to close part of Route 23 for nine hours. Police are still investigating the accident. As of last week, they had not interviewed the Toyota driver due to her hospitalization.

Source: Woman stable after accident, Berkshire Eagle, June 11, 2010

Continue reading "Lenox Woman Injured in Head-on Collision" »

On Tuesday morning, a two-vehicle accident on Route 140 killed one person and injured two others. Police have not released the name of the deceased person pending notification of the car accident victim’s family. He or she was riding in a 1995 Ford Escort driven by a Shrewsbury, Massachusetts woman. The passenger was pronounced dead after being transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

The Escort’s driver and the driver of a 2004 Mercury Mountaineer both sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the collision. According to a police press release, they were also transported by ambulance to UMass Memorial.

Traffic at the intersection was temporarily rerouted following the motor vehicle accident.

Source: 1 killed, 2 injured in Route 140 accident, Telegram.com, June 9, 2010

Continue reading "One Fatality, Two Injuries in Shrewsbury Car Accident" »

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Bay State ranks 47th in the country for seat belt use. Currently, Massachusetts motorists and passengers are supposed to wear seat belts, but failure to do so is considered a secondary offense. In other words, police officers cannot pull over a driver for failure to wear a seat belt. They must pull over motorists for primary offenses like speeding or running a red light.

Some argue that changing the seat belt laws in Massachusetts could lead to racial profiling by police officers, but others say it’s a necessary safety measure. According to one Falmouth, requiring Massachusetts drivers and passengers to buckle their seat belts could save eighteen lives and prevent 600 serious injuries per year.

According to recent statistics, those are who are involved in a car accident and are not wearing a seat belt have an 83% percent chance of death. That number drops to just 34% when the person is wearing a seat belt. The Commonwealth is also entitled to an additional $13.6 million in federal funding if it tightens its seat belt law.

Source: Seat belt law change could be difference between life and death, MetroWest Daily News, May 30, 2010

Continue reading "Massachusetts Lawmakers Consider New Seat Belt Law" »

On Friday afternoon, an 87-year-old man from Brockon, Massachusetts died in a single vehicle crash on Route 95. It is believed that the driver had some sort of medical emergency while behind the wheel, but the state medical examiner’s office has yet to determine the cause of death.

Witnesses say the man was driving north in a 2000 Toyota Avalon when he drifted from lane to lane. He then veered off the road and onto the grass median, turning over times before landing in the Route 95 high-speed lane and ejecting the man. The car crash occurred around 6pm on Friday. Emergency rescue personnel from the Hope Valley Fire Department declared the man dead at the scene at 6:10pm.

According to police, a 1999 BMW managed to stop before hitting the overturned vehicle. One passenger in the car, a 77-year-old from Brockton, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Rhode Island Hospital.

Source: Massachusetts man, 87, dies in crash on Route 95 in Exeter, Providence Journal, June 6, 2010

Continue reading "Car Crash Kills Massachusetts Man " »

Police in Lynn have charged a 19-year-old with violating the “social host law,” which prohibits the sale, delivery, or furnishing of alcoholic beverages to minors. According to the law, “furnishing” can include allowing those under 21 to possess alcoholic beverages on premises or property owned or controlled by the defendant. Violations are punishable with up to a $2,000 fine and/or imprisonment for up to one year.

The fatal auto accident occurred in March, when several teens drank alcohol at a party thrown by the 19-year-old Lynn man and were later involved in a motor vehicle accident.

A 19-year-old woman was ejected through the sunroof and died after her boyfriend crashed his Toyota 4Runner. Two passengers also suffered minor injuries in the car crash. The driver involved in the motor vehicle accident has been charged with motor vehicle homicide, failure to stop at a stop sign, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Source: Lynn teen charged in fatal accident, The Daily Item, June 2, 2010

Continue reading "Fatal Car Accident in Lynn Leads to Social Host Charges" »

On Sunday, a motor vehicle accident on Route 18 in New Bedford involving three vehicles sent several people to Boston and Providence hospitals with serious injuries. Four of the auto accident victims, including two 2-year-old boys, were taken to hospitals by medical helicopter.

Police reports indicate that the car crash occurred near the Purchase Street ramp. A 1993 Honda Civic and a 1994 Honda Accord were reportedly racing on Route 18 when the Civic hit a 1999 Volkswagen Jetta. The Civic’s driver lost control of the vehicle, hitting the Accord. One of the Civic’s passengers was ejected from the car. She was not wearing a seat belt.

The Civic’s driver was taken by ambulance to St. Luke’s Hospital. State police would only identify the victim as a 17-year-old woman. The Accord’s driver was also taken by ambulance to St. Luke’s Hospital. He was identified as an 18-year-old New Bedford man. State police said two of the Accord’s passengers were flown to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious injuries. A total of seven injuries were reported.

Those operating the Accord and the Civic have been cited for speeding, marked lanes violations, and racing. The multiple vehicle collision remains under investigation.

Source: Route 18 racing crash injures 7, including 2 children, South Coast Today, May 31, 2010

Continue reading "New Bedford Car Crash Injures Seven People" »

Earlier today, several motor vehicle accidents on Interstate 93 in Massachusetts and New Hampshire caused delays for many drivers. The first accident involved a motorcycle and was called in around 4:30am after the cyclist struck a deer.

Another motorcycle accident occurred an hour later when a New Hampshire man crashed his 2000 Harley Davidson. The cyclist was alert but complained of neck and back pain. Andover rescue reportedly took the man to Lawrence General Hospital.

Three more auto accidents occurred between 6:50am and 7:35am, but police were not able to give further details on those incidents. The most recent car accident caused in a car fire that backed up traffic along 93 South. Firefighters were able to control the flames by about 9:30am this morning.

Source: Rash of accidents on I-93 leave at least 2 injured in Mass. and N.H., Eagle-Tribune, May 25, 2010

Continue reading "Multiple Accidents on I-93 Cause Driving Delays" »

Last week, a motor vehicle collision on a Massachusetts military reservation injured two drivers. According to state police, their vehicles collided at the intersection of Generals Boulevard and Richardson Road around 6:30am.

The auto accident involved a Nissan Pathfinder driven by a 25-year-old Braintree man and a Honda Civic driven by a 32-year-old Attleboro woman.

Members of the Massachusetts Military Reservation Fire Department extricated both of the injured motorists from their vehicles. The Honda driver was taken to Falmouth Hospital and later transferred to Brigham & Women’s Hospital. The other motorist was treated and released at Falmouth Hospital, according to a Cape Cod Healthcare spokeswoman.

Source: Drivers injured in collision on military base, Cape Cod Times, May 14, 2010

Continue reading "Car Crash on Massachusetts Military Base Injures Two " »

Several Massachusetts car insurance companies have been accused of failing to correct at-fault car accident findings reported to private data collection companies after the board overturned those at-fault findings. Four more auto insurers have settled with Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley to the tune of more than $100,000.

The settlement requires these four companies to correct their at-fault accident findings reported to private data collectors. They must also report these corrections to insurers who actively use this information to calculate premiums for Massachusetts drivers. In addition, the companies will be required to pay any driver surcharged as a result of an at-fault report that should have been corrected.

According to Coakley’s office, the settlement could impact the driving records of 10,000 Massachusetts motorists.

Source: Mass. AG settles with four more insurers over at-fault accident reports, IFAWebNews.com, May 11, 2010

Continue reading "Massachusetts Attorney General Reaches Deal with Auto Insurers Over Accident Reports" »

The Middlesex District Attorney's Office is investigating a Waltham pizza delivery driver who was reportedly involved in a motor vehicle accident that claimed the life of a 9-year-old boy. The 19-year-old Waltham man has not yet been charged in connection with the fatal crash, but his license was automatically revoked after the incident and records from the Registry of Motor Vehicles show that the driver was found more than 50 percent at fault for his involvement in another Waltham accident on March 27.

The fatal car accident occurred last Wednesday when a Mazda Protégé collided at an intersection with a Jeep Cherokee. Police believe that the Mazda driver may have run a stop sign after making a pizza delivery.

According to registry records, the driver of the Jeep Cherokee was driving without a Massachusetts driver's license. Her 9-year-old son was killed, but her 1-year-old daughter survived the accident without injury.

Source: Teen investigated in fatal Waltham crash, Boston Herald, May 8, 2010

Continue reading "Waltham Car Crash Kills Passenger" »

Last month, a 15-year-old Massachusetts boy was driving a sport utility vehicle when the vehicle crashed into a tree in Newton. All four of the SUV's occupants were age 15 and were taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for injuries.

Police have announced that the boy will face charges of driving to endanger, operating without a license, and using a motor vehicle without authority. In addition to these charges, the teen was cited for speeding.

Three of the teens injured in the SUV crash have been released from the hospital. As of a few weeks ago, the other teen was in critical but stable condition, according to the Boston Globe.

Source: Driver, 15, to face charges in Newton crash, Boston Globe, April 26, 2010

Continue reading "Teen Faces Charges in Newton SUV Accident" »

On Saturday afternoon, two men died in separate Massachusetts highway crashes. Both traffic accidents occurred between 3 and 4pm.

In the first crash, a car headed east on Interstate 195 hit a guard rail and flipped over. EMTs pronounced the driver dead at the scene of the car crash. He was the only person in the vehicle.

A second highway accident involved a man on a motorcycle, who was traveling south on Route 146. He was thrown from his motorcycle after hitting the median. The motorcycle accident victim was transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Both fatal accidents are being investigated. Authorities have not released the victims' names pending notification of relatives.

Source: Two killed in highway accidents, Boston Globe, April 24, 2010

Continue reading "Police Report Two Fatal Highway Crashes in Massachusetts" »

On Sunday evening around 9pm, a 24-year-old Springfield man crashed his vehicle into a home in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. The impact of his Acura hitting the house caused an estimated $25,000 in damage, but fortunately none of the home's occupants were injured.

The driver admitted to text-messaging at the time of the car accident. He was released from the hospital later that night.

Lawmakers say this car crash underscores the hazards of texting behind the wheel and the need for legislation to ban the practice. Regardless of whether texting is legal or illegal, police say they hope that other Massachusetts drivers will take heed.

Source: 24-year-old Springfield man tells Wilbraham police he had been texting when he lost control of his Acura and crashed into a home at 11 Pleasant View Road, MassLive.com, April 26, 2010

Texting Driver Crashes into House, CBS3Springfield.com, April 26, 2010

Continue reading "Texting Motorist Crashes Into Massachusetts Home" »

According to Massachusetts transit police, a Green Line trolley collided with a black Jeep Cherokee around midnight on Sunday. The Jeep Cherokee reportedly carried eight Boston College students, including four college athletes, all under the legal drinking age. Several of the students were injured and treated at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, but neither the driver of the trolley nor any of its passengers were hurt.

Police apparently searched the vehicle after the MBTA crash and found several open and unopened beer cans, as well as an unopened 1.75 liter bottle of vodka. They also found "flood smeared beer cans" at the site of the trolley accident.

The MBTA has announced that it will hold the students responsible for the SUV accident and wants them to pay repair costs. The eight students will also face citations for being minors in possession of alcohol.

Source: Four BC athletes to face alcohol charges after Green Line collision, The Boston Globe, April 26, 2010

Continue reading "Boston College Athletes Involved with Green Line Crash" »

In the three years since Massachusetts instituted tougher penalties on teen drivers who speed or commit other traffic violations, the number of fatal car accidents involving junior operators has decreased by 75%. According to statistics from the Registry of Motor Vehicles, the number of speeding tickets and citations for seat-belt violations issued to these young drivers has also dropped.

New laws took effect on March 31, 2007 after a serious of deadly car crashes involving teen drivers. These laws increased driver's ed requirements and the penalties for teen driving violations. The RMV says these new penalties have been highly effective at discouraging unsafe driving practices among teens.

In fact, last year Massachusetts had only six fatal auto accidents involving teen drivers, compared to 20 a few years ago. Overall, there were 13,214 accidents reported among teen motorists compared to 21,310 in 2006 before the new laws went into effect.

Source: Steep drop in teen driver fatalities, Boston Globe, April 18, 2010

Continue reading "Massachusetts Experiencing Fewer Teen Driving Fatalities" »

On Sunday morning, a single-car accident on Route 1 in Peabody killed an Amesbury man. The 21-year-old passenger was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from a 2005 Saturn Ion when the driver, a 22-year-old from Sanford, Maine, lost control of the vehicle. The Saturn rolled over several times before ending up in the median.

The driver was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious injuries, but his passenger was declared dead at the scene of the accident. According to police, the ramp from Route 1 north was closed for about two and a half hours while authorities investigated the car accident.

Troop A of the Massachusetts State Police , the State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and the Medical Examiners Office continue to investigate the fatal auto accident.

Source: Amesbury man dead in Route1 ramp crash, ItemLive.com, April 19, 2010

Continue reading "Peabody Car Crash Kills Massachusetts Man " »

According to statistics from the first quarter of this year, car accidents in Walpole, Massachusetts have decreased by 20 percent compared to first quarter last year. Last year, officers responded to 127 motor vehicle accidents in the first quarter compared to 101 accidents this year.

In fact, police have noted a three-year downward trend with 393 recorded auto accidents in 2008 and 11 fewer in 2009. This comes despite a decrease in manpower in the city's police department over the last few years. In 2004, the department had 41 officers compared to its current 33 sworn officers.

Walpole's police chief attributed this trend to efficient policing, improved sight visibility at dangerous spots, and road improvements at several intersections. He said they are planning to hire two experienced officers soon and the town working to straighten out turns on two streets.

Source: Car accidents in Walpole down 20 percent, WickedLocal.com, April 15, 2010

Continue reading "Stats Show 20% Fewer Car Crashes in Walpole" »

Earlier this week, a Dracut, Massachusetts driver was pulled over for text messaging while in plain sight of a police officer. When officers discovered that the man was also driving with a suspended license, they arrested the 20-year-old motorist.

Text messaging while driving become illegal in New Hampshire on January 1. While a violation would generally lead to a reckless operation charge and a $100 fine rather than an arrest, police arrested the man because they say he blatantly broke the law by driving without a valid license and texting with the cell phone at steering wheel level.

The state does not track the number of people caught texting on the road, so it's possible that this driver was the first to get caught. However, police say that while text messaging poses a serious danger to drivers, it can be challenging to enforce the new law.

Source: A first? Texting while driving leads to arrest, UnionLeader.com, April 6, 2010

Continue reading "Massachusetts Man Arrested for Texting Behind the Wheel" »

A 25-year-old Lynn motorist who was charged in connection with a fatal car accident has pleaded not guilty to leaving the scene of an accident causing death. He was ordered held on $5,000 cash bail and prohibited from driving.

The auto accident occurred in Revere on Thursday morning when a 59-year-old was reportedly crossing a road near her home. She was apparently hit by a car and her body was thrown into the opposite lane. Emergency responders declared the women dead at the scene.

According to prosecutors, the driver was traveling above the 40 mph speed limit when his vehicle hit the woman and he kept on driving after the accident. However, he turned himself in to police an hour later.

The motorist has prior driving-related offences on his record and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. He will return to court later this month.

Source: Man charged in hit-run accident that killed Revere woman, Boston Globe, April 2, 2010

Continue reading "Lynn Man Pleads Not Guilty to Hit-And-Run in Deadly Crash" »

A deadly car accident in Westport, Massachusetts last week proved the seriousness of text messaging while driving. The sole car crash victim was a 21-year-old male who lost control of his Buick Regal and perished less than a mile from his home after driving into a tree.

Police said the damage to the vehicle was catastrophic and that it's unlikely that anyone could have survived the impact. Skid marks at the scene of the traffic accident show that the Buick was moving at speeds of at least 80 mph in a 30 mph zone. While speed was certainly a factor in the severity of the incident, investigators discovered that the driver had sent a text message just one minute before the auto crash was reported, so they suspect that driver distraction may have played an even bigger role.

No one else was in the car at the time of the accident.

Source: OUR VIEW: Tragedy shows that text messages can wait, Taunton Daily Gazette, March 29, 2010

Continue reading "Westport Driver Dies in Car Crash, Texting a Suspected Factor" »

Earlier this month, the owner of a 2010 Toyota Rav-4 crashed the car into a plastic surgery clinic in Yarmouth, Massachusetts. The 70-year-old driver said the vehicle accelerated on its own, and now, in light of the recent Toyota recall, federal investigators are looking into the car crash.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to spend two days examining the vehicle to see if her story holds weight. Police said they were using sophisticated computers to inspect the car, but they requested an independent investigation to see what might have gone wrong.

Investigators say that eyewitnesses confirm the driver's story. She was treated for minor injuries. No other injuries were reported in connection with the auto accident.

Source: Feds investigate Mass. woman's claim that Toyota wouldn't stop, NECN.com, March 23, 2010

Continue reading "Federal Authorities Investigating Yarmouth Car Crash " »

Last week, a car accident in Stratham, Massachusetts seriously injured a 12-year-old middle school student, leaving her in critical condition. According to East Kingston Police, the incident occurred outside the teen's home around 3:55pm. The girl was riding out of her driveway on a RipStick, a modified skateboard, when she was struck by a Toyota Camry, suffering serious head injuries.

The injured teen was transported to Exeter Hospital, then flown by helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. As of this morning, a hospital spokesperson said the girl was still in critical condition.

No charges have been filed in connection with this traffic accident, and police say they are still investigating.

Source: Skateboarder in critical condition after being struck by car, SeaCoastOnline.com, March 24, 2010

Continue reading "Stratham Car Crash Leaves Skateboarding Teen in Critical Condition" »

Here in Massachusetts, severe weather conditions over the last several days have made driving unusually treacherous, creating at least one car accident in nearby Manchester, New Hampshire. The storm also delayed flights out of airports in New York and Boston and knocked out roads in several parts of the state. The MBTA reports that parts of the D line were taken out of service yesterday due to flooding.

However, WCSH6.com reports that Southern Maine has been hit hardest of all. Roughly 50 roads in York country were closed. Route 202 in Lebanon was covered in water, and Route 1 in York was closed to a single lane yesterday. Hundreds of residents also lost power.

Authorities urged drivers in Massachusetts and throughout New England to use caution on wet, slippery roads.

Source: Storm causing travel problems, WCSH6.com, March 15, 2010

Continue reading "New England Storms Create Dangerous Driving Conditions" »

On Saturday, a two-vehicle rollover on Route 25 injured seven people, including five children. Massachusetts police say two of the children were seriously injured. The traffic accident occurred around 11:15 on Saturday morning when a 1999 Toyota Avalon reportedly made contact with a 1999 GMC Suburban, causing both vehicles to roll over.

According to reports, the GMC ended up in the median on the driver's side, and the Toyota landed on its roof in the breakdown lane. All seven people were initially taken to Tobey Hospital, say police. Two of the children, age 9 and 11, were seriously injured and were later taken to Children's Hospital in Boston.

Massachusetts troopers are still investigating the cause of this car crash.

Source: Double rollover on Route 25 sends seven to hospital, GateHouse News Service, March 14, 2010

Continue reading "Two-Car Crash in Wareham Injures Seven" »

The driver of a Toyota Rav-4 who crashed her vehicle into a Yarmouth, Massachusetts doctor's office on Tuesday says the accident was not her fault. Her vehicle had supposedly been repaired as part of the Toyota recall, but several drivers have reportedly accelerator problems even after their vehicles were fixed.

The 70-year-old driver, who apparently has a flawless driving record, told her son she put her foot on the brake pedal and the vehicle accelerated into the building. Then she reportedly looked down after the car accident and her foot was still on the brake. She suffered minor injuries and back pain, but no one inside the doctor's office was injured.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the motor vehicle accident.

Source: Blaming Toyota for doctor's office crash, NECN.com, March 10, 2010

Continue reading "Yarmouth Car Crash Blamed on Toyota Problems" »

Earlier this week, a 92-year-old woman from Milford, Massachusetts was injured in a car accident and later succumbed to those injuries. After being flown by medical helicopter to the hospital, she died late Monday at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

The woman's 82-year-old sister was found to be at fault for the four-car accident, and police say they are considering holding her criminally responsible for the death. Ultimately, that determination will be made by the district attorney, they say.

The younger sister was driving a 1998 Dodge Stratus that set off the chain-reaction crash. She was not seriously injured and has already been cited for following too closely.

Source: 92-year-old passenger in Milford crash dies from injuries, Milford Daily News, March 10, 2010

Continue reading "Milford Woman Dies in Car Crash, District Attorney Considers Filing Charges" »

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" »

Early Tuesday morning, a Massachusetts woman died in a two-vehicle crash on Route 93 in Wilmington. When troopers responded to the call at 1:17am, they discovered a 2006 Nissan Altima that had been traveling north on Route 93 when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle and hit the left guardrail. The Nissan ended up in the left travel lane, where it was hit by a 2006 Honda Accord.

The 22-year-old driver of the Nissan was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Burlington, where she was pronounced dead. The driver of the Honda, a 35-year-old North Andover man was taken to the same hospital and treated for injuries. Following the car crash, the two left travel lanes were closed for roughly two hours during the crash investigation and vehicle removal.

The fatal car accident is still being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section.

Source: Tewksbury woman dies in two-car crash in Wilmington, GateHouse News Service, February 23, 2010

Continue reading "Wilmington Car Crash Kills Tewksbury Woman" »

Our Boston personal injury lawyers recently read about two unrelated car crashes that occurred on Friday and Saturday of last week. On Friday evening, a rollover accident on Interstate 84 in Sturbridge killed a Worcester woman. The 25-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident after an SUV hit the truck she was riding in.

Two other people were ejected from the truck and seriously injured, but the driver of the truck was not injured. The SUV driver and his passengers suffered minor injuries. Police say the SUV driver was charged with speeding and may face more severe charges once the accident investigation is completed.

Early Saturday morning, another car accident occurred in Boylston, Massachusetts when a 21-year-old woman's vehicle crossed the center lane and crashed into a utility pole on Route 70. The car burst into flame and the driver died. Police are still investigating.

Source: Two killed in central Mass. crashes, Boston Globe, February 20, 2010

Continue reading "Two Women Die in Central Massachusetts Auto Accidents" »

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" »

Last Wednesday evening, a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 93 hospitalized a Londonderry man. The driver was found unconscious after his vehicle veered off the highway and into a grouping of trees. Police say the accident occurred around 8:15pm between Exit 1 and the Massachusetts border. Emergency response crews removed the driver through the passenger's side door.

There were no passengers in the car and apparently no one else was injured. The car crash victim was transported by ambulance to Lawrence General Hospital, then flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in Boston.

The auto accident is still being investigated and the man's age is not known.

Source: Salem crash leaves man unconscious, Eagle Tribune, February 4, 2010

Continue reading "Car Accident In Salem Seriously Injures Man" »

On Sunday afternoon, a multiple motor vehicle accident on Route 341 injured a Massachusetts woman who had stopped to help another driver. Police say a gray Subaru wagon rolled in the area of Kent Hollow Road around 3:15pm and the woman was reportedly attempting to rescue the driver from the Subaru. Meanwhile, a Marbledale School van slid off the road when it tried to stop and aid in the rescue effort, hitting the Subaru and pushing it on top of the woman.

Fortunately, other drivers on the scene of the car accident were able to lift the van off the woman before emergency responders arrived. Once crews arrived, the woman was transported to New Milford Hospital and then transferred to Danbury Hospital. She reportedly sustained serious injuries, including several broken bones, that were not believed to be life-threatening.

Two passengers in the school van were treated for non-life threatening injuries at Sharon Hospital. The Subaru’s driver was taken to New Milford Hospital and treated for minor injuries.

Source: Good Samaritan seriously injured in multi-car accident, Register Citizen, January 25, 2010

Continue reading "Multi-Car Crash in Kent Injures Woman" »

On Sunday evening, a Somerset woman died in an auto accident on Route 195 West. According to Massachusetts state police, the 65-year-old woman was driving a Ford Taurus near Exit 8A in Fall River when the vehicle crashed, killing the driver. The accident occurred around 8:30pm. She was transported to Charlton Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

During the two hours following the car accident, police closed the high speed lane of Route 195 for an investigation. The motor vehicle crash is still being investigated by police.

Sources: One woman dies in I-95 crash, Turnto10.com, January 24, 2010
Woman killed in I-195 crash, WPRI.com, January 25, 2010

Continue reading "Massachusetts Car Crash on I-195 Kills Driver" »

Massachusetts State Police say a car crash on Route 195 West in Westport killed a driver early on Saturday morning when a 1996 Toyota Camry veered off the road and hit a barrier in the breakdown lane. The vehicle rolled over and came to rest in the middle of the highway.

The Camry's driver, a 26-year-old from West Warwick, Rhode Island, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, according to police. A passenger was ejected from the car and was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where the 23-year-old woman was treated for serious injuries.

The motor vehicle accident is still being investigated.

Sources: Woman hurt in crash, The Sun Chronicle, January 24, 2010
Rollover Crash Kills One, The Boston Channel, January 23, 2010

Continue reading "Westport Car Accident Kills One, Injures Another" »

Police closed Amherst Street on Sunday morning after a motor vehicle crash involving an ambulance and a car. The ambulance reportedly hit a Nissan Maxima as the car was exiting the highway at Exit 7. The driver was treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries, and the ambulance attendants suffered minor injuries.

The patient inside the ambulance was apparently not injured in the car crash and was taken to Massachusetts' Lahey Clinic for ailments not related to the accident. Police said they were called to the scene of the accident at 11:30am. When they arrived, the ambulance had its emergency lights and sirens on.

The auto accident is being investigated by the Police Department's Accident Reconstruction Unit.

Source: Ambulance-car crash ties traffic, Nasha Telegram, January 18, 2010

Continue reading "Milford Ambulance Hits Car, Delays Traffic" »

On Sunday morning, a Green Line trolley and a car collided, shutting down MBTA service on the B line for about an hour. No one on the trolley was injured, but the driver was treated for a cut on his head at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton.

The car accident occurred around 8:30am at the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Lake Street. MBTA officials claim the driver ran a red light and crashed into the train. Trolley service was restored an hour later, and an MBTA bus was called to transport riders in the interim.

Authorities are still investigating the MBTA crash.

Source: Green Line Trolley, Car Collide In Brighton, WBZTV.com, January 10, 2010

Continue reading "Brighton Trolley Crash Interrupts T Service " »

Early Sunday morning, a car crash in Boston killed a passenger and injured a 49-year-old Worcester man, who remains in critical condition at Massachusetts General Hospital. The car accident victim was driving a 1978 MG Midget when his vehicle was hit head-on by an allegedly drunk driver in a black 1995 Jeep Brand Cherokee.

The auto accident occurred around 1:45am on the turnpike near the Prudential center tunnel in Boston.

The alleged wrong-way drunk driver was held in $100,000 cash bail. The driver allegedly tried to flee the scene of the motor vehicle accident by running down I-90. He was not injured in the crash and pleaded not guilty to charges of motor vehicle homicide while driving under the influence of alcohol, negligent driving, driving under the influence of alcohol causing serious bodily harm, and driving a motor vehicle the wrong way.

Source: Surviving victim of wrong-way crash still critical, Telegram & Gazette, December 29, 2009

Continue reading "Boston Car Crash Victim in Critical Condition " »

In Middleboro, Massachusetts last week, a motor vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer and two cars seriously injured a 41-year-old Falmouth man. State police say the accident occurred on Route 495 near Exit 6 around 8:11am when a 2002 Volkswagon hit a tractor-trailer that was stopped in the breakdown lane. That crash sent a 2007 Toyota Corola off the road and into a wooded area, seriously injuring the driver of the Toyota and the Volkswagon.

One of the auto accident victims was taken to Boston Medical Center and the other to Morton Hospital in Taunton. The tractor-trailer operator was not injured.

Following the motor vehicle collision, Route 495 South was closed for approximately two hours. Traffic was diverted onto Route 24 North during the initial investigation. Massachusetts State Police, along with several other agencies, are still investigating the car crash.

Source: Falmouth man injured in Route 495 crash, CapeCodOnline, December 17, 2009

Continue reading "Crash on Route 485 Injures Two Massachusetts Drivers " »

Massachusetts State Police report that last Friday a wrong-way car accident in Methuen seriously injured three people. The car collision occurred around 3pm on Route 213 when a 2006 Pontiac G6 crossed over the median and hit a 2000 Ford Explorer head-on.

The driver of the Pontiac, a 19-year-old Methuen man, was injured in the auto accident and was taken to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. The 63-year-old driver of the SUV and his 50-year-old passenger were also injured and taken to Lawrence General Hospital for medical treatment.

Source: Three Injured in Wrong-Way Crash, TheBostonChannel.com, November 28, 2009

Continue reading "Methuen Accident Injures Three After Car Crosses Median " »

An auto accident in the Sumner Tunnel this past weekend killed a 34-year-old woman from Roslindale, Massachusetts and seriously injured two Roslindale men, who were thrown from the vehicle. The car accident occurred just before 1:30am on Sunday morning.

The woman was still inside the car when state troopers arrived at the scene of the motor vehicle accident. She was pronounced dead at Massachusetts General Hospital. Both of the injured men are 25 years old and were ejected from the car after it hit the median. They were listed in serious condition at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Medical Center as of Monday.

Authorities are still investigating the fatal car accident and have not yet determined the cause.

Source: Roslindale woman dies in Sumner Tunnel accident; two men thrown from vehicle, WickedLocal.com, November 23, 2009

Continue reading "Boston Car Crash Kills One, Seriously Injures Two Others " »

A two vehicle crash on Interstate 95 early Saturday morning seriously four people. The car accident victims were all in their teens and twenties, according to police. Three of the injured were treated and released from a hospital in Rhode Island on Saturday evening. The fourth, a 24-year-old male from Tiverton, Rhode Island, was listed in critical condition as of Sunday night.

Police say one of the cars went airborne roughly 20 feet in the air before landing in the woods nearby. One person was thrown from the vehicle and another had to be extricated by firefighters using chainsaws to cut trees around it. Both vehicles were totaled, and state police closed two lanes of traffic for several hours.

Police have charged the two drivers with racing, speeding, reckless operation, and failure to stay within marked lanes in connection with the 2am auto collision.

Sources: I-95 crash leads to charges, The Sun Chronicle, November 21, 2009

Four hurt in I-95 crash, The Sun Chronicle, November 21, 2009

Continue reading "Two Car Crash in Attleboro Injures Four People " »

A driver injured in a two-car crash in Milford, Massachusetts died last week after suffering extensive internal injuries. Police had initially believed that the 55-year-old man would recover from the September 12 auto accident, which occurred when the man's 2002 Dodge was hit by an 1998 Kia SUV. The SUV hit the driver's side of the Dodge after failing to stop at the stop sign on the Fruit Street Extension.

Police discovered that the driver was not licensed. They cited her for driving without a license and failure to stop at a stop sign. The owner of the SUV was also cited for allowing an improper person to drive a car without a valid driver's license.

Because of the driver's death, the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council's crash reconstruction team will conduct a scientific analysis. Officers will also review the autopsy review and make recommendations for any charges.

Driver from September crash dies; police to review circumstances, Milford Daily News, October 27, 2009

Continue reading "Police Reviewing Milford Car Crash After Drive Dies" »

Early on Saturday morning, a 32-year-old woman crashed her 2008 Mercedes into two Marion police cruisers on the side of Route 6. The first police car had its emergency lights flashing and there were no police officers in the vehicle at the time of the car crash, which occurred just 2am. Officers were talking to a driver who had been pulled over.

After hitting the first police car and pushing it into the center of the road, the Mercedes hit a second police car, which was parked on the side of the road while the driver assisted the other officer. According to a police report, the vehicle was pushed into the fast lane and sustained moderate damage. The Mercedes was severely damaged.

The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and taken to Toby Hospital for treatment. She was later released. No one was else was injured in the auto accident, although the incident forced the closure of Route 6 in both directions for an hour. The motor vehicle crash is still under investigation, but police say alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor.

Marco woman crashes into two Massachusetts police cruisers, MarcoNews.com, October 26, 2009

Continue reading "New Bedford Car Accident Involves Two Massachusetts Police Cruisers" »

Earlier this week, several Massachusetts state troopers were injured in unrelated car crashes. On Sunday evening, Trooper Patrick McGowan was injured in a Wrentham car crash involving a 2004 Acura. He was treated and released at Norwood Hospital. One of the passengers in the Acura was also injured in the auto collision.

Also on Sunday evening, Trooper John Duggan was injured in a Raynham car accident on Route 495 after a 2001 Pathfinder crossed the median and hit the trooper's cruiser head-on. He was extricated from his cruiser and transported to Morton Hospital with minor injuries.

On Monday morning, a Trooper Edward Bruso was seriously injured while responding to a car crash on Route 290 westbound in Worcester. He was transported to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and later released.

Both of the Sunday evening cruiser accidents are being investigated.

Troopers Hurt In Series Of Road Crashes, TheBostonChannel.com, October 19, 2009

Continue reading "Massachusetts Road Crashes Injure Troopers " »

Freestyle sledder Darryl Tait landed in a Massachusetts hospital following a snowmobile crash during a Boston area competition, according to the Whitehorse Star. The 19-year-old is at Massachusetts General Hospital and is using a respirator to breathe. His snowmobile apparently landed on him while he was demonstrating a maneuver.

According to a friend of Tait, surgeons are waiting until he can breathe on his own before attempting to operate in his back. Tait's doctors are unsure if his spine was severed in the snowmobile accident.

The friend told the Whitehorse Star that one of the athlete's lungs was punctured and the other collapsed. The snowmobile accident victim also reportedly suffered broken ribs.

Canadian Freestyler Darryl Tait Injured in Snowmobile Crash, TSN.ca, October 16, 2009

Continue reading "Massachusetts Snowmobile Crash Injures Freestyle Sledder" »

On Thursday evening, a flat bed tow truck carrying an SUV on Route 495 reportedly crashed into another vehicle, ejecting and killing the tow truck operator. No one else was killed in the truck accident, which occurred around 10:15pm. According to Massachusetts police, the tow truck also hit the Rt. 195 bridge abutment and overpass during the accident.

When EMS personnel responded to the emergency call, they pronounced the 52-year-old truck accident victim dead at the scene. The crash caused police to shut down Route 495 southbound near Route 25 for several hours as they examined the scene of the accident. Inspectors from Mass Highway were also called to the scene of the truck accident to help calculate the extent of damage caused to the overpass and bridge abutment.

The accident investigation is continuing with help from the State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Service Section, and the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section.

One Killed in Wareham Tow Truck Accident, ABC6.com, October 9, 2009

Continue reading "Wareham Tow Truck Accident Kills One" »

According to the Boston Globe, a car crash last Monday on Morrissey Boulevard near the entrance to University of Massachusetts-Boston injured five people. All suffered non-life-threatening injuries, said a police spokesman. Two of the car accident victims were taken to Tufts Medical Center. The other two were taken to Boston Medical Center.

The auto accident reportedly occurred when a car traveling southbound on Morrissey Boulevard made an illegal U-turn. It crashed into another vehicle and a street sign, propelling the car on top of the northbound vehicle.

A UMass-Boston student who witnessed the crash pulled the driver of the southbound vehicle out of the driver's seat. Another student pulled a person out of the passenger seat. Three people remained trapped in the back seat until firefighters cut the roof of the car open and removed them.

Five injured in Morrissey Boulevard crash, Boston Globe, September 29, 2009

Continue reading "Boston Car Crash Injures Five " »

According to a recent study, hybrid cars are a greater risk to pedestrians than vehicles with internal combustion engines because of their quieter engines. Blind pedestrians are especially at risk, because they rely more heavily on auditory cues. In fact, a blind woman in Kansas City last year had her cane run over and broken by what she suspects was a hybrid vehicle.

Because of this heightened risk of a pedestrian accident, automakers are exploring ways to create noise and warn pedestrians, especially when a vehicle is driving under 10 miles per hour, when tires on pavement and other road noises are barely audible.

Congress also passed the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, which ordered a federal agency to examine the issue and potentially recommend a minimum amount of sound. Already, American drivers kill approximately 4,500 pedestrian and injure 70,000 others each year. And as hybrid cars gain in popularity, the issue of safety becomes even more important.

Safety experts fear electric cars too quiet, KansasCity.com, September 26, 2009

Continue reading "Hybrid Vehicles Pose Safety Risk to Pedestrians" »

Last Wednesday, a car crash on Interstate 495 southbound in Bolton killed two people and injured three more. All five were riding in the same vehicle when the driver lost control of the vehicle, exited the road to the left, and rolled over before coming to rest against a tree in the median.

The driver was seriously injured and was transported by medical helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, according to police. The other two seriously injured passengers were transported by ambulance to UMass Memorial Medical Center. One passenger was pronounced dead at the scene after being trapped inside the vehicle and suffering serious injuries. Another was thrown from the vehicle during the crash and later pronounced dead after being taken by ambulance to University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

Following the single-vehicle accident, there was a 90-minute lane closure and traffic diversion to allow the medical helicopter to land safely. Police rerouted traffic onto Route 117 at Exit 27. The accident remains under investigation.

State police investigate fatal car crash on Interstate 495 in Bolton, WickedLocal.com, September 24, 2009

Continue reading "Bolton Car Crash Kills Two People, Injures Three" »

Last Friday, an Uxbridge man was seriously injured after driving his car into a tree on Park Street just before 2am. The 20-year-old man suffered severe head trauma, according to the Mendon Police and Fire Chief.

The motor vehicle accident victim was taken by LifeFlight to UMass Memorial Medical Center. His passenger suffered minor injuries and was treated at Milford Regional Medical Center. They were not wearing seat belts.

The car crash is still being investigated by the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Reconstruction Team and Mendon Police. Alcohol and speed are believed to be factors in the auto accident, but it is still unknown if the driver will be charged.

Driver still critical after crash, Milford Daily News, September 22, 2009

Continue reading "Uxbridge Driver Injured in Crash " »

A Boston Fire Department vehicle and a 1998 Audi collided on Monday afternoon, injuring four people. The motor vehicle accident occurred in Jamaica Plain. The driver of the Audi was reportedly driving to his fiancé's house after hearing it was on fire. He collided with the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe sport utility vehicle used by District 9 fire chief after allegedly running a red light at the corner of Amory and Atherton streets.

The driver of the car and a young child in the vehicle sustained injuries and were taken to Boston Medical Center for evaluation. The District 9 fire chief and his driver were also injured. They were transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. According to a Boston Fire Department spokesman, all injuries were minor. However, major damage to both vehicles was reported.

The fire that both vehicles were rushing to turned out to be smoke from overcooked food. The driver of the Audi was cited for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, according to a police report. The auto accident is still under investigation.

Fire chief, 3 others injured in crash, Boston Globe, September 8, 2009

Continue reading "Jamaica Plain Motor Vehicle Crash Injures 4" »

Earlier this week, in Westford, Massachusetts, an auto accident occurred at 6:30am after a Honda CRV veered from the southbound side of 495 into the northbound side. The Honda was broadsided by an oncoming 18-wheeler and hit by a mini-van.

According to police, a 37-year-old male passenger was killed instantly in the collision. Emergency responders were not able to revive the driver, who also died. One man was from Fitchburg and other from Templeton. Both of the car crash victims were taken to Lowell General Hospital. Two other people sustained minor injuries, and the highway reopened several hours later after state police and rescue workers finished tending to the victims.

The crash is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section. As of Wednesday afternoon, no charges had been filed in this motor vehicle accident.

Two men killed in 'horrific' crash on 495, Westford, The Eagle Tribune, August 26, 2009

Continue reading "Westford Highway Collision Kills Two Men" »

Last Thursday morning, a car crash on the Massachusetts Turnpike sent a 6-year-old boy and a 30-year-old man to University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester with serious injuries. The auto accident, which was reported around 10:30am, also caused a temporary closure of several westbound lanes on the Massachusetts Turnpike.

According to state police, the driver was partly ejected from his 1995 Chevrolet Lumina when his car was hit by a Ford Escape operated by a Peabody man, who was not injured in the crash. A preliminary investigation revealed that the Chevy's tire blew out, causing that vehicle to veer to the right.

As of last Friday, the identity of the younger motor vehicle accident victim had not been released pending notification of the family. The car accident is still under investigation.

Pike crash injures 2 in Charlton, The Republican, August 21, 2009

Two people seriously injured in Pike crash, Telegram.com, August 21, 2009

Continue reading "Charlton Car Crash Seriously Injures Two " »

Last month, a 32-year-old woman from Dedham died of injuries caused when a 71-year-old driver drove over the curb and into a private yard, hitting the woman and her 2-year-old child with her sport utility vehicle.

The child was in stable condition, the Dedham car accident victim died that night at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Police were called to the scene of the car crash on Munroe Street around 3:30pm. The name of the 71-year-old driver has not been released, though that could change if the driver is charged.

According to the Somerville police, the auto accident is being investigated.

Dedham woman dies after Somerville accident, Boston Globe, July 28, 2009

Continue reading "Somerville Car Accident Kills Dedham Woman" »

A study released last week by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) discovered that car drivers who talk or listen to someone on a cell phone while driving increase their risk of auto crashes by 1.3 times. Truck drivers who text message up their risk of a motor vehicle crash 23.2 times as compared to a non-distracted driver.

Here in Massachusetts, there are no laws against text messaging while driving, but there is a ban against cell phones for school bus drivers. Earlier this summer, the state Senate approved a bill that would ban texting while driving, but the bill was later overridden. Since May, over a dozen bills relating to driving and cell phone use have been have introduced in the State Senate.

So far, five states have passed legislation banning handheld cell phones for all drivers. Fourteen states (and Washington, DC) have passed legislation banning text messaging for all drivers. No state has completely banned all types of cell phones for all drivers, regardless of age. However, a bill that would prohibit all car and truck drivers from text messaging or emailing while driving was introduced in the U.S. Senate last week.

Texting big risk for drivers, The Martha's Vineyard Times, August 6, 2009

Continue reading "New Bill Would Ban Drivers from Texting While Behind the Wheel" »

On Sunday afternoon, a 43-year-old Massachusetts mother and two children, ages 10 and 12, were injured in an car collision on the Route 101 bypass in Milford. Police say the woman was driving a 1998 Volvo station wagon when she skidded into the other lane, colliding with a 2000 Volkswagen. The auto accident occurred on the western part of the bypass between Market Basket and Route 13.

The driver of the Volkswagen was not injured, while the woman driving the Volvo was taken to a Nashua hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The two children who were riding in the Volvo were also taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. The emergency response team included two ambulances from Milford, two ambulances from Amherst, and two Milford Fire Department engines.

Route 101 was closed for less than an hour following the motor vehicle crash. Police are still investigating the car accident.

Woman, 2 kids hurt in Route 101 crash, NashuaTelegraph.com, August 4, 2009

Continue reading "Newton Woman and Kids Injured in Route 101 Collision " »

Over the weekend, two Massachusetts State Police troopers were injured in separate traffic accidents in Sharon and Braintree.

The first auto accident occurred at 3:55am on Saturday morning. Trooper Eric Papkee was sitting in his vehicle in the breakdown lane processing traffic violation when his cruiser was hit by another car. The driver was cited for failure to take care in stopping. Papkee was treated for minor injuries to his neck and back at Quincy Hospital and released.

The second auto crash occurred on Sunday evening at 9:49pm. Trooper John McCarthy had stopped a car in the breakdown lane of Route 1 northbound when he was hit from behind by the side mirror of a passing pickup.

The pickup was allegedly driven by a drunk driver, who was charged with operating under the influence of liquor, leaving of the scene of an accident involving personal injury, unlicensed operation, marked lanes violation, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and obstructing an emergency vehicle. McCarthy sustained back and shoulder injuries. He was treated at Norwood Hospital and later released.

2 troopers injured in separate traffic stops, Boston Globe, July 28, 2009

Continue reading "Two Traffic Accidents Injure Massachusetts State Troopers" »

Last week, a pedestrian sustained severe head injuries after he was struck by a car in Brighton as he was strapping his one-year-old child into a car seat. Fredy E. Zepeda was 36. He was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital and treated for what police described as massive head trauma. He died last Thursday. His child was not injured.

According to a Boston police spokesman, police took the 47-year-old driver into custody. The Watertown woman was arraigned last week, and her original charges of leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury and negligent operation of a motor vehicle were upgraded to a charge of motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene of personal injury resulting in death. She pleaded not guilty.

According to driving records released by the Registry of Motor Vehicles, the driver had been found responsible for five previous car crashes since 2005.

Driver faces upgraded charges in Brighton crash, Boston Globe, July 20, 2009

Man struck while putting child in car, Boston Globe, July 15, 2009

Continue reading "Brighton Hit-And-Run Accident Kills One" »

On Friday night, a Massachusetts state trooper was injured in a car accident in Dorchester. According to police, the cruiser was traveling north on Morrissey Boulevard when another vehicle made a U-turn and caused the crash.

Authorities do not consider the injuries to be life-threatening. The trooper's vehicle was also carrying a dog at the time of the auto accident, but the dog is said to be fine.

Although some car crashes result in minor injuries, others can lead to serious, life-altering conditions such as burns, brain injuries, or even death. Massachusetts is a no-fault state, so motorists are covered by their own Personal Injury Protection Insurance (PIP), but some car accident victims find that that their medical costs exceed their PIP's policy limit.

State trooper injured in Dorchester crash, WHDH.com, July 11, 2009

Continue reading "Dorchester Crash Injures Massachusetts State Trooper" »

According to a survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, only about two thirds of Massachusetts drivers are likely to wear a seat belt. Massachusetts has the lowest percentage of seat belt use in the country despite the fact that research has proven the effectiveness of seat belts in saving lives during a car accident.

In fact, three separate Massachusetts motor vehicle accidents during this past 4th of July weekend resulted in a total of seven deaths where seat belts went unused.

Drivers and passengers give a variety of excuses, among them "I only wear one on the highway," "it's comfortable," and "I don't want to mess up my shirt." Massachusetts lawmakers have introduced mandatory seat belt legislation in an effort to combat these attitudes.

Bay State’s scorn for seat belts unrivaled, Boston Globe, July 8, 2009

Continue reading "Despite Safety Concerns, Massachusetts Drivers Resist Wearing a Seat Belt" »

In Bourne, Massachusetts, the driver of a truck with a boat attached was injured when his truck crashed into the median strip and woods on Route 28 North. The boat, measuring approximately 25 feet, was being towed by the truck and came off of its trailer as a result of the crash.

The motor vehicle accident occurred at about 4am on Saturday morning. One lane of traffic on Route 28 was closed for about an hour while the boat and truck were removed from the scene of the truck accident. Bourne police and firefighters were on the scene investigating the crash.

The truck driver was transported to Falmouth Hospital. The extent of his injuries are unknown.

Truck with boat attached involved in accident in Bourne, MA, NECN.com, June 20, 2009

Continue reading "Truck and Boat Accident in Bourne Injures Driver" »

Over the weekend, a Canton driver hit and killed a 4-year-old girl who was out for a walk with her grandfather. The girl was on a scooter in a Washington Street crosswalk when the car accident occurred. According to those who witnessed the accident, the impact threw the girl 50 to 60 feet. She was taken to Tufts Medical Center, where she later died of her injuries.

Just after the accident, the Registry of Motor Vehicles revoked the 88-year-old driver had her license revoked. The RMV cited her as an "immediate threat." On Sunday, the Massachusetts state police collision analysis and reconstruction team was the scene of the pedestrian accident.

It is unclear what caused the driver to hit the girl, but State Senator Brian Joyce, of Milton, says he hopes to get a hearing this for a bill that require Massachusetts drivers over the age of 85 to take road and vision tests. The bill has been opposed by several organizations for older Americans, who worry that it could result in age discrimination.

Elderly Driver Charged In Deadly Stoughton Crash, WBZTV.com, June 15, 2009

Continue reading "Driver, 88, Charged in Stoughton Car Crash " »

This morning, a four-vehicle accident on Route 128 in Waltham caused major delays during the morning commute. The crash closed two northbound lanes of Route 128. The southbound lane was backed up due to the "curiosity factor."

According to the Boston Globe, the motor vehicle accident happened just before 7am a few miles north of the Massachusetts Turnpike. A spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police said the crash involved a delivery truck, a tractor trailer, and two other vehicles.

Some of the drivers involved in the crash suffered injuries; however, police not know the extent of their injuries.

Crash on Rte. 128 in Waltham slows commute, Boston Globe, June 17, 2009

Continue reading "Four-Vehicle Crash in Waltham Causes Delays" »

On Monday afternoon, a Massachusetts woman was taken by ambulance to a local hospital following a one-vehicle accident on Route 3 in Augusta, Maine. The woman was driving east in her Infiniti when she says that two lanes merged and a truck cut her vehicle off. The Infiniti went into a ditch, hit some tress, and rolled over.

Police said the accident occurred roughly 10 feet from the Augusta-Vassalboro town line. The car crash was reported at 3:56pm, and emergency responders had the scene of the auto accident cleared by 5:55pm that day.

Responders included the Kennebec Sheriff's Office, Vassalboro Fire Department, and Augusta Fire Department. They did have to remove some trees to remove the car from the woods. The woman's injuries were not life-threatening, but her car was declared totaled.

Augusta Crash Injures One, Destroys Vehicle, WMTW.com, June 8, 2009

Continue reading "Massachusetts Woman Injured in Single-Vehicle Accident" »

On Friday, the mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts allegedly ran a stop sign and crashed his 2003 Lexus into another car while touring the city with the state's top transportation official.

Mayor Robert Correai was driving Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation James A. Aloisi Jr., as well as Senator Joan Menard and Rep. Michael Rodrigues, when the auto accident occurred. They were on their way to meet a news reporter.

The driver of the other car, a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder, told police that the mayor ran a stop sign and that she was not able to stop in time. No one was injured in the motor vehicle accident, but police cited Correia for failing to stop in accordance with Massachusetts law. He received a $100 traffic ticket.

Police: Mayor Runs Stop Sign, Causes Crash, TheBostonChannel.com, June 7, 2009

Continue reading "Fall River Mayor Reportedly Causes Car Crash" »

In Danvers, a 93-year-old man crashed his car into the entrance of a Wal-Mart off Andover Street. The car accident occurred just before 10am, injuring a mother and her one-year-old daughter. Several other people were taken to the hospital due to the shock of the accident, but none of the injuries were life-threatening, according to the Deputy Fire Chief. The driver refused medical treatment, but his 90-year-old wife was transported to the hospital as a precaution.

According to a preliminary investigation, authorities say the auto accident happened because the driver stepped on the gas instead of the brake pedal as he was trying to park his Toyota Camry. The car rammed into two cash register stations inside the store, narrowly fitting in between concrete posts intended to prevent cars from getting in the entrance.

Although there was no structural damage to the store, authorities estimate that the car crash caused between $50,000 and $60,00 in damage.

Mother and baby injured as car crashes into Danvers Wal-Mart, Boston Globe, June 2, 2009

Continue reading "Massachusetts Car Crash Injures Mother and Baby" »

According to the Boston Herald, state troopers have been issuing a startling number of tickets to Massachusetts drivers. In the first three months of this year, the number of speeding citations increased by 23 percent over the first quarter of 2007. Overall, troopers gave out more than 12,000 speeding tickets on the Mass. Pike in the first three months of this year.

Some drivers accuse the Pike of increased ticketing to compensate for a budget crunch created by the Big Dig construction project. However, a spokesman for the Executive Office Transportation insists that the number of tickets is based on a concern for public safety and a desire to minimize the number of motor vehicle accidents related to speeding or reckless driving.

Most of the speeding tickets are issued by Troop E, which is the state police unit assigned to patrol the 138-mil toll road. According to the United States Department of Transportation, the risk of sustaining injuries in a car crash increases exponentially with speeds much faster than the median speed.

Staties slap drivers, filling Pike’s coffers, Boston Herald, May 27, 2009

Continue reading "Mass. Pike Drivers Getting Issued A Higher Number of Speeding Tickets" »

On Friday morning, a car crash on 128 South in Burlington caused police to shut down all lanes of Route 128 intermittently for roughly two hours. Massachusetts state police said two people were on the ground when troopers arrived.

According to state police, Robert Carlo Jr., 29, of Bedford was driving a 2008 Ford pickup truck when he swerved into the right lane and hit a 1996 Ford Explorer just before 7am, causing the Explorer to spin out of control and cross into the far left lane. The Explorer hit a 2008 Dodge Durango, killing two Lawrence men and injuring others.

The deceased motor vehicle accident victims were identified as Juan Condorie, 43, and Alberto Maza, 22. Maza was pronounced dead at the scene of the car accident, but Condorie was taken by helicopter to Boston Medical Center before passing away that afternoon. Three other men were taken to Lahey Clinic in Burlington and were later discharged.

Two Lawrence men dead in hit-and-run on Route 128, Eagle Tribune, May 23, 2009

Crash shuts down 128 South in Burlington, NECN.com, May 22, 2009

Continue reading "Burlington Car Crash Forces Traffic Detour" »

Over the weekend, an 18-year-old high school student hit and killed a pedestrian as he drove home from a school-sponsored harbor cruise in Boston following his senior prom. Jonathan Caruso allegedly drove off Essex Road, hit a road sign, a telephone pole, a bush, and two women who were out walking their dog. Carol Marean, 67, was pronounced dead at the scene of the car accident, while her daughter, Charlotte Marean, 41, was seriously injured.

According to witnesses, the three teenagers involved in the car crash (none of whom were injured) tried to flee the accident until a neighbor threatened to turn them in. They waited for police to arrive, and Caruso was arrested after failing a sobriety test and reportedly telling his friends he'd had 10 beers. School officials said that all students were given breath tests and had their bags checked before the prom and before the cruise.

A judge ordered Caruso held on $7,500 cash bail, and the student was charged with negligent motor-vehicle homicide, transporting alcohol as a minor, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Today he pleaded appeared in Lynn District Court and pleaded not guilty.

Saugus teen arraigned in post-prom crash death, Boston Globe, May 18, 2009

Continue reading "Saugus Teen Pleads Not Guilty After Post-Prom Car Crash" »

Police say that speed may have led to the car crash that killed a Salem man and injured a Derry girl earlier this week. Police were called to Island Pond Road just after midnight when a 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier veered into the opposite lane and hit a tree. An assistant medical examiner pronounced the driver, 18-year-old Robert Stuart, dead at the scene of the car accident.

A 16-year-old girl was seriously injured and taken to Boston Medical Center for medical treatment. Her name has not been released to the public. Neither Stuart nor his passenger were wearing seat belts when the car crash occurred. He attended Timberlane Regional High School in Plaistow and the Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative in Massachusetts and would have graduated next month.

Although police say they believe speed may have caused the car accident, they are still investigating.

Speeding may have caused fatal Atkinson crash, Eagle-Tribune, May 6, 2009

Continue reading "Speed Believed to be a Factor in Atkinson Car Crash " »

A man who survived a recent Somali pirate attack was injured in a car accident in late April. First mate Shane Murphy was driving home to Seekonk with his wife the day after the pair attended a Red Sox-Yankees game in Boston when the auto accident occurred.

Murphy, 34, missed an appearance at his alma mater, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, as a result of the car crash, but his injuries were not believed to be serious.

His wife, Serena, 34, called her father-in-law after the motor vehicle accident to let him know that the couple was in the hospital. Their two sons were not with them at the time of the crash, and the father-in-law said they are trying to figure out what to do with the children while their parents recover.

According to a spokesman from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Serena was released from the hospital a short time later and the event honoring Murphy had been postponed.

Murphys injured in car crash, CapeCodTimes.com, April 28, 2009

Continue reading "Massachusetts Couple Injured in Car Crash " »

Last fall, Massachusetts' Registry of Motor Vehicles stopped mailing reminders to people whose driver's licenses would soon expire. According to the state Executive Officer of Transportation, the decision saved the state $857,000 per year.

However, Massachusetts drivers caught driving with an expired license can receive a citation with a fine ranging from $100 to $1,000. Since driving with an expired license is a criminal offense, police officers can arrest the driver if they choose.

To help prevent drivers from using an expired license, a Boston-based insurance company, Plymouth Rock Assurance, is offering a free email service to remind drivers when their license will expire. Beginning May 11, anyone, regardless of whether they are a Plymouth Rock policy holder or not, can sign up at www.plymouthrock.com. The company ensures approximately 180,000 drivers in Massachusetts.

Drivers offered license reminder, MassLive.com, May 4, 2009

Continue reading "Boston Company Offers License Reminder Service to Drivers" »

According to a press release from the Massachusetts state police, a car crash on Soldiers Field Road in Boston left two Waltham resident seriously injured on Monday. The single-vehicle crash occurred on Monday evening when a 1994 Lexus sedan veered into the left lane, spun out of control, and hit the guardrail.

The driver was taken by ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital and was later pronounced dead. His two passengers, Francky Andrevil, 20, and Jeron Feaster, 19, suffered serious injuries and were taken by ambulance to New England Medical Center.

The traffic accident remains under investigation, and the right westbound lane of Solders Field Road was closed for about 3 hours after the car accident.

Two Waltham men seriously injured in Boston crash, Daily News Tribune, April 28, 2009

Continue reading "Car Crash Seriously Injures Two Waltham Men " »

A car accident in a Massachusetts suburb killed a well known Boston doctor when her car veered into oncoming traffic and hit another car. The driver, Dr. Phyllis Jen, was killed, and police are questioning whether Dr. Jen was using her BlackBerry at the time of the car crash.

Speed and alcohol did not appear to be factors in the auto accident, and the driver and passenger of the other vehicle, a large SUV, were not seriously injured. Although Massachusetts has not experienced as many car crashes related to texting or cell phone use as some states, lawmakers are considering a ban on wireless handsets to protect drivers.

According to a recent study conducted by Harris Interactive, 92% of Americans believe driving while texting or emailing as dangerous as driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Cell Phone Misuse May Have Killed Boston Physician, InformationWeek.com, April 23, 2009

Continue reading "Car Accident in Boston Suburb Blamed on BlackBerry" »

An early morning car accident in Marion, Massachusetts, on April 10 sent two people to the hospital. According to police, Jonathan Fonseca, 20, was driving west on Route 6 when he hit the curb and a utility pole, breaking the pole and causing it to fall across Route 6. The damage from the car crash (a broken utility pole and downed wires) forced authorities to close Route 6 for nine hours.

Fonseca and his passenger, 18-year-old Michelle Rico, were flown to the hospital by Med Flight helicopter. Their injuries were considered serious, according to the Marion police chief. As of last week, Ricco was in fair condition, and Fonseca had been treated and released from the hospital.

The Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstructions Section is investigating the auto accident along with the Marion Police. They believe that speed may have been a factor.

Two local people seriously injured in car accident, WickedLocal.com, April 14, 2009

Continue reading "Marion Car Accident Seriously Injures Two People " »

On Saturday night, a state police trooper was hit by a car while on a detail in a damaged area of Boston's Mass Pike. The area was damaged in an earlier traffic accident that occurred around 11am that morning.

The driver of a 2009 Toyota Camry dropped a "large piece of equipment" which hit one of the panels at the D entrance of the Mass Pike on Congress Street around 9pm.

According to state police Lt. Eric Anderson, the injured trooper was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the Toyota Camry, a 24-year-old man from Hyde Park, was arrested on marijuana charges, and the car accident remains under investigation.

State trooper at Pike ramp struck by car, Boston Herald, April 12, 2009

Trooper Struck By Vehicle in Boston, WBZTV.com, April 11, 2009

Continue reading "Massachusetts State Trooper Seriously Injured on Mass Pike" »

Countless studies have confirmed the link between cell phone use and car crashes. One estimate prepared by the Harvard Center of Risk Analysis states that more than 2,600 people die from cell phone-relatd auto accidents.

According to CellularNews.com, the United States and Sweden are the only two industrialized nations that do not prohibit cell phone use while driving (though many allow it with a hands-free set). Many states, including Massachusetts, have discussed the possibility of banning drivers from using cell phones on the road. But aside from fining drivers for violating the ban, there seems to be little that law enforcement officials can do to prevent cell phone use.

This gave Fred Wenz, a UPS deliveryman, an idea. Wenze formed Try Safety First LLC with John Fischer and the pair has filed a provisional patent for an owner compliance key (OCK). The device will block the incoming and outgoing radio signal to and from cell phones for a five-foot radius – preventing the person in the driver's seat from making or receiving calls. The OCK could be used on a secondary set of keys (say, for a teen driver) or on the primary set of keys. The company is in the funding stages.

Hang up and drive, Enquirer.com, April 9, 2009

Continue reading "New Device Could Prevent Motorists from Using Cell Phones While Driving" »

Over the weekend, a 16-year-old from Quincy, Massachusetts died in a rollover car crash in the southbound lane of Interstate 89 in Hopkinton. A press release from the State Police states that the auto accident occurred around 2:19pm on Saturday afternoon. Police arrived at the accident and found a Jeep on its side on the media. They believe that the Jeep veered off the roadway and rolled over several times before it landed on its side.

The driver, Michael Richardson, 48, of Quincy, Massachusetts, and the front passenger, Angenetta Cairo, 35, also of Quincy, were both wearing seatbelts and did not sustain any injuries. Anthoney Wilkerson, 16, was riding in the backseat but was not wearing his seatbelt. Members of the Hopkinton Rescue Squad tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead by the state Medical Examiner’s Office.

Driver impairment does not appear to be a cause of the car accident, and according to the press release, fatigue or “inattention/distraction” may have contributed.

Crash claims Mass. teen, UnionLeader.com, March 22, 2009

Continue reading "Massachusetts Teen Dies in Hopkinton Car Crash " »

In Salem, a car accident injured four people on Thursday evening. Three of the car crash victims were taken to local hospitals, and the vehicles were severely damaged.

The auto accident occurred on the northbound lane of Fort Avenue around 7:30pm. The driver of a 2002 Ford Mustang GT was in the wrong lane and collided with a Honda Odyssey. Both cars caught fire as a result.

A passenger riding in the Mustang was thrown from the car and later taken to Massachusetts General Hospital by MedFlight helicopter. According to the Salem’s fire deputy chief, two other accident victims were taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

The cause of the motor vehicle accident and the names of the victims are unknown.

4 hurt in fiery crash, Salem News, March 13, 2009

Continue reading "Massachusetts Car Crash Injures Four People" »

Earlier this week, a Salem resident was awakened by loud noises and bright lights on his lawn. He and his girlfriend initially thought it was a thunderstorm, but they didn’t fathom that it could be a burning car on his front lawn.

John Frost, a Marlborough Road resident, rushed outside with a fire extinguisher and watched someone crawl out of the overturned car shortly after 1am. Miraculously, there were no injuries in the car crash. However, the driver and passenger were transported to Salem Hospital as a precaution.

The driver, a 32-year-old from Peabody, was driving from Peabody toward Highland Avenue. He told police he had brake trouble coming around the curve. His car became airborne before it hit two cars in a driveway (both of which were towed) and tore the front gutter off the house.

According to Salem News, the driver will be cited for speeding, driving without a license, operating to endanger, and a marked lanes violation.

Wild crash ends with flames on resident's lawn, Salem News, March 10, 2009

Continue reading "Driver Survives Car Crash in Salem " »

On Sunday night around 8:18pm, a 2006 Toyota Prius collided head-on with a 2003 Saturn Ion on Memorial Drive in Cambridge. According to a state police trooper, both drivers were treated for minor injuries at local hospitals.

The Boston Herald reports that the injured drivers were Cynthia Scott, 54, of Wellesley and Jonathan Buchbinder, 53, of Quincy. The scene of the accident was at 8:55pm and Memorial Drive at Magazine Street was shut down.

The cause of the car accident has not been released.

Drivers survive head-on Memorial Drive collision Sunday, Boston Herald, March 9, 2009

Continue reading "Drivers Escape Cambridge Car Crash With Minor Injuries" »

On Friday afternoon, a car accident injured the four occupants of a Toyota Corolla that had spun out of control and slammed into a large cement planter. The passengers and driver were taken by Action Ambulance to local hospitals. Two were in serious condition.

The car was traveling down Essex Street in Swampscott and passed two other car before the driver, Nicholas Linear, lost control. The 19-year-old lives in Salem. His passengers included Edgar Manan, 20, also of Salem, Bernard Coleman, 21, of Dorchester, and Jonathan Elvert, 26, of Medford.

According to Salem News, Linear and Manan have already been released from the hospital. The other two car crash victims are being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The auto accident is still under investigation by Massachusetts State Police.

4 injured in Swampscott crash, Salem News, February 28, 2009

Two seriously injured in Essex Street crash, WickedLocal.com, February 27, 2009

Continue reading "Swampscott Auto Accident Injures Four" »

A North Attleboro man was arrested on one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after allowing his unlicensed 15-year-old relative to drive his car. The teen accidentally drove into the parking lot of Cumberland Farms around 9:40pm last Saturday night. She confused the brake and the gas pedal, and the 2006 Pontiac Vibe crashed into the brick and glass façade of the store. Fortunately, the customers and cashiers scattered and no one was harmed.

The man, 49-year-old Thomas M. Gibbons, told police he was giving her a driving lesson. The received a traffic citation for driving without a license. According to police, the car crash caused “significant damage” to the store’s brick façade and window display.

A similar incident occurred last April, when a 49-year-old woman was drove into the façade of the former Sunrise Bagel Shop during her road test for her driver’s license. She, too, had mistaken the brake and the gas pedal. But because she had a valid learner’s permit, police did not cite her. She was treated for minor injuries, but no one else was harmed.

Unlicensed teen slams car through Cumberland Farms, The Call, February 23, 2009

Continue reading "Massachusetts Man Cited After Car Crash" »

In Lynn, Massachusetts, a car accident on July 12 left a police officer severely injured and out of work. The State Police accident report states that high speeds, running a red light, and not wearing a seat belt all appear to be factors in the car crash.

The auto accident occurred at the intersection of Western Avenue and Chestnut Street, where a police cruiser driven by officer Gregory LeBlanc collided with another vehicle driven by Lt. Christopher Reddy. According to the report, Reddy was driving westbound on Chestnut Street, when slowed his vehicle as he drove through a green light and “T-boned” the cruiser driven by LeBlanc.

Massachusetts state law exempts on-duty police officers from wearing seat belts, so neither one was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. Reddy sustained minor injuries and returned to work within a few days. LeBlanc had to be extricated from his cruiser and transported to a Boston hospital by helicopter. According to his wife, LeBlanc suffered a shattered pelvis and received three surgeries in two weeks.

As of late last year, LeBlanc’s medical bills had topped $410,000 and the city of Lynn will likely be expected pay half once LeBlanc’s insurance coverage kicks in.

Report: Lynn cruiser crash due to lax safety measures, ItemLive.com, February 10, 2009

Continue reading "Massachusetts Police Cruiser Crash Blamed on Speed, Other Factors" »

In Saugus, a 28-year veteran of the Massachusetts state police died an early morning car crash last week. Captain Richard Cashin, 52, was working the 11pm to 7am shift when his cruiser, an unmarked Crown Victoria, hit a utility pole, crossed a parking lot, and slammed into a snow bank off Route 1 north. The car crash occurred around 1:45am.

No other vehicles were involved, and Cashin was pronounced dead at the scene of the car accident. The cause of this tragic auto accident is under investigation, but authorities said it does not appear to be weather-related. Cashin had worked with the state police since 1980 and some believe that he is the highest-ranking Massachusetts state police officer ever to die in the line of duty.

Our condolences go out to Cashin’s wife and four children on the loss of their husband and father.

State Trooper Killed In Route 1 Crash, WBZTV.com, January 28, 2009

Mass. state trooper dies in crash, Associated Press, January 28, 2009

Continue reading "Massachusetts State Trooper Dies in Car Crash" »

The Boston Globe reports that a Wellesley, Massachusetts man was killed in a car crash while on a fishing trip in Argentina. The family of Thomas Patrick McDermott, 73, formerly the head of Ernst & Young’s New England division, said that McDermott often traveled to South America on philanthropic trips and to visit his wife’s family in Chile.

The truck McDremott was riding in, along with his companion, Thomas Fritz, turned over. No other vehicles were involved in the crash, and the car’s driver, William Smith Kanaga, 83, of Orleans Massachusetts was pinned underneath the car. A representative of the United States embassy in Buenos Aires said Kanaga was in serious but stable condition following the motor vehicle accident.

According to the representative, the State Department is investigating the car accident.

Wellesley man dies in Argentina crash, Boston Globe, January 27, 2009

Argentina: 2 Americans die in car accident, Associated Press, January 26, 2009

Continue reading "Wellesley Man Killed in International Car Crash" »

Yesterday morning, a car crashed into a Sutton police cruiser at Route 146 and Boston Road. The police cruiser was on its way to investigate an unrelated traffic accident on Route 146.

Neither the policeman nor the driver of the driver of the car, a 36-year-old Auburn woman, were injured in the car crash, though the police car was severely damaged. Both vehicles were towed away.

According to state police Sgt. David Mahan, all drivers at the four-way intersection yielded for the police cruiser except for the driver of the car that collided with the police cruiser. That intersection is the only one on Massachusetts’ Route 146 that has a traffic signal.

Police are investing the car crash involving the police cruiser and the car accident that the policeman was about to investigate.

Car collides with cruiser on its way to an accident, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, January 22, 2009

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On Thursday, an Enfield police officer was traveling south on I-91 when a tractor-trailer changed lanes unexpectedly and hit the officer’s car. Fortunately, the officer and his police dog Niko were not injured in the crash. As the tractor-trailer forced the officer’s car into the guardrail, the officer kept control of his vehicle and pulled over the truck. He then called the Massachusetts state police.

According to police, the truck’s wheels practically reached the hood of the officer’s car, which was heavily damaged. Police said the damaged vehicle was a spare, because the officer’s new car was being outfitted with radios and other items.

The truck driver who crashed into the officer's car received a moving violation from Massachusetts state police.

SPRINGFIELD/ENFIELD: Officer, Dog Unhurt In Crash, Harford Courant, January 17, 2009

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Massachusetts lawmakers have unveiled a new state policy that would remove the appeals process that allows Mass. drivers to appeal a rate hike in their insurance coverage after a car accident. The current appeals process takes about seven months and costs drivers $50, so the change in policy is being touted as a faster, cheaper option for drivers.

The new policy, which goes into effect of April 2009, requires drivers who were involved in a traffic accident but were not at fault to file a complaint with their insurance company. The insurance company will determine whether the driver should pay a rate hike for the accident, and the Insurance Commissioner said that drivers can switch insurance companies if they disagree.

Some are concerned that this new policy will give insurance companies too much power. “You’re letting the fox guard the chicken coup,” said the president of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents. “I just don’t see how this is consumer-friendly.”

According to the Boston Herald, Massachusetts is the only state where drivers can contest surcharges before an appellate board if the driver was found at fault.

Massachusetts nixes driver appeals process, Boston Herald, January 9, 2009

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On Sunday evening around 5pm, a car crash left five people injured and caused significant structural damage to a home, which was later condemned as a result of the car accident.

Crystal S. Chaney, 28, was driving a 1993 Chevrolet Lumina when she ran a stop sign and was hit by a 2008 Buick Enclave driven by Doyle W. Kincaid, 52. The impact caused Chaney’s vehicle to spin off the road and crash into the corner a house.

All three passengers in the Lumina had to be cut out of the vehicle by rescue crews. Two passengers, one in serious condition, were airlifted to a local hospital. The driver of the Buick and his wife suffered minor injuries as a result of the traffic accident. Police cited Chaney for false registration, driving on a suspended license, and disregarding a stop sign.

Car crash leaves 5 hurt, house condemned, The Journal Gazette, January 5, 2009

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An allegedly stolen SUV fleeing the police crashed head-on into a CDTA bus shelter and seriously injured a person in the bus shelter. Jonathan Carpenter, who sustained broken legs, arms, internal injuries, and severe head injuries in the car crash, was transported to a local hospital.

Robert A. Holcomb, 47, appeared in stocking feet and hospital garb to be arraigned on several charges including first-degree vehicular assault, two counts of criminal mischief, criminal possession of stolen property, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, running a stop sign, DWI, and failure to signal a turn.

A city court judge said that Carpenter has two previous felony convictions and has an outstanding arrest warrant in Massachusetts.

Fleeing driver crashes, severely injures bystander, TimesUnion.com, December 19, 2008

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This holiday season is harder for many Massachusetts families, including a North Shore family whose Dad broke his back in a serious car accident in 2005. The Boston Globe reports that the mother wrote to Globe Santa recounting the life-altering head-on collision that left her husband disabled and unable to work.

According to the mother’s letter, her two daughters, ages 6 and 9, have had to take on many of the household chores because of the chronic back pain that resulted from the car crash. Though the mother has been working as a waitress, the family says it is struggling to make ends meet on one income and a small insurance settlement.

This family will be among approximately 30,000 receiving gifts from Globe Santa. The Globe reports record numbers of requests this year, and urges individuals and groups to contribute to Globe Santa to ensure that all eligible Eastern Massachusetts families receive a visit from Santa this year.

Mom seeks help for family after dad disabled in car crash, Boston Globe, December 15, 2008

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On Sunday during the season’s first widespread snowfall, more than a dozen auto accidents were reported between 1 and 4am between Northampton and Holyoke. Most of the car crashes occurred on Interstate 91 in Holyoke near exits 15, 16, and 17 northbound and southbound, according to a Massachusetts state trooper.

Several people were taken to Boston area hospitals, but no serious injuries were reported. One driver slid into a parked police cruiser. The trooper had stopped on the side of I-91 to assist with another motor vehicle accident when his car was hit. Fortunately, he was not in the car at the time, so there were no injuries.

On Sunday afternoon, the snow returned, resulting in several small accidents in Franklin and Berkshire Counties. In addition to highway accidents, police in Western Massachusetts reported a few minor car accidents in their area as well.

Snowfall causes flurry of accidents, MassLive.com, December 8, 2008

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A Massachusetts man was taken to South Jersey Healthcare-Elmer Hospital with minor injuries following a two-vehicle accident on Friday around noon. The collision occurred on Yorktown Road in New Jersey, according to state police.

Harvey Wilmore, 41, was a passenger who sustained minor injuries as a result of the crash. Also injured was Eugene Brice, of Millville. The 60-year old was transported to Cooper University Hospital with severe chest injuries following the auto accident.

Police say Brice’s Dodge pickup truck collided almost head-on with a Ford pickup truck driven by Joseph Massey, 34. Massey was trying to make a left-hand turn onto Mannington-Yorktown road when he evidently pulled in front of Brice, who was traveling in the opposite direction.

No tickets had been issued at the scene of the accident, which police say is still under investigation.

Millville man suffers chest injuries in 2-vehicle crash, NJ.com, December 6, 2008

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In Salem, Massachusetts, a car driven by a 76-year-old Peabody man was struck by a commuter train in a Massachusetts tunnel during the evening rush hour on Monday. Officials say the driver was able to walk and talk to investigators after the commuter rail accident, but the man later died. It is unclear whether injuries resulting from the crash played a role in his death. His name has not been released to the public.

Witnesses to the commuter rail collision say that the man was driving along the ground-level platform at the Salem station before driving about 300 feet into the tunnel. The driver of the northbound commuter train braked when he saw the headlights of the car, but it was too late.

No injuries were reported by passengers of the commuter rail train.

Driver dies after collision with MA commuter train, Boston Globe, November 3, 2008

Car driven by 76-year-old driver strikes Mass. commuter train in rail tunnel; man later dies, Newsday, November 3, 2008

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In Whitman, Massachusetts last week, rescue crews rushed to the scene of a two-car accident reported on West Street at Washington Street. One car had flipped onto its roof, making it difficult for firefighters to enter the vehicle and transport its driver to the hospital.

Fortunately, a firefighter/paramedic was able to aid the driver through the driver’s side window, while other firefighters worked to cut off the rear passenger door. The car accident victim was safely removed through the rear door of the car, given medical treatment in Whitman Ambulance-1, and taken to the Brockton Hospital.

The intersection where the motor vehicle accident occurred has a two-way stop sign and has long been considered a dangerous intersection for drivers.

Massachusetts Crews Free Trapped Victim, Firehouse.com, October 20, 2008

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In Becket, Massachusetts, a Saturday morning car accident claimed the life of a Becket man. It also injured the driver, who was from East Longmeadow. The car crash occurred on Route 20 just before 3:30 am when a 1997 Ford Contour went off the road near the Becket/Chester town line, hit some boulders and a tree, and became airborne, finally landing on its roof.

Thomas A. Sacchetti Jr was trapped in the Ford Contour after the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene of the car accident. The driver, Catherine A. Rivet, was transported to Berkshire Medical Center, where she was admitted to the surgical floor.

Investigators from the Massachusetts State Police are assisting Becket Police Sergeant Marc Portieri in an investigation of the car crash. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, police said Rivet may face charges.

Becket police probe fatal Route 20 crash, MassLive.com, October 17, 2008

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In Lawrence, Massachusetts, the city’s auto insurance task force is investigating a two-car crash that occurred in January, 2003. Nine people were charged with auto insurance fraud last week in connection with the car crash, and four of those have filed seven or more auto insurance claims, raising potential questions about the claimants’ credibility.

One of those people, Jose Cruz, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, has reportedly filed over twenty auto insurance claims in a 5.5 year period. Eight of his insurance claims involved injuries. Another, Rita Lopez, also of Lawrence, Massachusetts filed 22 auto insurance claims in a little over a decade. She claimed to have sustained injuries in six of those car accident claims.

The car insurance industry has a nickname for those who file five or more claims in a decade: “frequent flier.” Two passengers have already come forward to tell police that the 2003 auto accident was a fraud. The city of Lawrence is in the midst of a five year crackdown on auto insurance fraud. This case brings the total number of people charged to 333.

Participants' insurance claims history raises 'red flags' in latest auto fraud case, The Eagle Tribune, October 12, 2008

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In Amherst, Massachusetts, a University of Massachusetts graduate student was hit by a car on campus last night. Li Cai, 25, was transported to Bay State Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts after the pedestrian accident.

According to the university’s news office director, the impact of the car threw Cai about 20 feet. The Camry sedan was driving west on Massachusetts Avenue near the Isenberg School of Management, and it is believed that the setting sun may have cast a glare that contributed to the car accident.

Cai’s condition is unknown, and the university police are investigating the motor vehicle accident. No charges have been filed.

University of Massachusetts graduate student struck by car in campus accident, The Republican Newsroom, October 3, 2008

Graduate student hurt in crash, The Daily Collegian, October 3, 2008

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In Peabody, Massachusetts on Monday, two drivers were seriously injured as the result of a head-on collision. A Chevy Cavalier and a Ryder rental truck collided on Lowell Street in Peabody just before noon.

Peabody police say it appeared that Suzanne Coughter of Peabody drove her compact car into the opposite lane of traffic, hitting the truck. Coughter suffered injuries to her legs and possibly chest and head. Emergency rescue personnel had to extract her from the sight of the car accident. She was airlifted to Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital.

Glenn Jalbert, also of Peabody, was driving the truck and was transported by ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital. As of Monday, he was listed in fair condition, according to The Salem News.

The only witness to the car accident was a passenger riding in the truck. The accident is under investigation by the state police accident reconstruction team.

Crash sends two to hospital, The Salem News, September 16, 2008

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According to the Cape Cod Times, a Brazilian teen living in Marstons Mills crashed his car into a tree on Race Lane on Saturday, then fled the scene.

The 1994 Mercedes was discovered by Barnstable police, but there was no driver. The car had a smashed windshield and both airbags deflated. The driver, 17-year-old Jean Ikchucki, later returned with his mother to the scene of the car crash.

Police took both people to the Barnstable police station, where they spoke with investigators though a translator. The teen initially told investigators that his mother was driving the car, but they discovered that he had been behind the wheel. Since both mother and son are living in Massachusetts illegally, neither one has a valid Massachusetts driver’s license.

Police gave Ikchucki a criminal citation for operating without a license; however, it is unlucky that he or his mother will be deported as a result of the car crash.

Teen crashes car into tree, flees scene, Cape Cod Times, September 13, 2008

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According to police, a Massachusetts driver on Route 302 in Maine hit the guardrail on the left side of the road and came to a stop after colliding with the chain-link fence of the nearby Blake Equipment Company.

Paul Townsend was driving a gold 2006 Hyundai Elantra. The car was totaled after the accident, and all of the car’s air bags deployed upon impact. The car’s passenger, George Townsend, had to be removed from the car, because the fence prevented him from opening the car door himself. The seventy-six year old was taken to the hospital to be examined and for damage to his hand. Paul Townsend sustained minor injuries and was transported to Maine Medical Center for evaluation.

Windham Police Officer Ray Williams said the car accident was related to a medical problem and was not caused by traffic or high speeds.

Accident sends car through fence, IndependentPub.com, September 3, 2008

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