Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

A 40-year-old man from Foxboro was ejected from his pickup truck after it rolled over multiple times due to a crash with another vehicle. He was airlifted by medical helicopter to Massachusetts General in Boston on Tuesday afternoon. The two-car crash happened at approximately 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of South and West streets in Foxboro.

Deputy Fire Chief Steve Bagley confirmed that the driver of the pickup truck seemed have chest injuries and also difficulty breathing. Acting Fire Captain David Laracy said that the pickup driver "suffered serious head and chest injuries."

According to the Foxboro Police Department, a 13-year-old boy who was also in the pickup was taken to Norwood Hospital. He was not severely injured.

Witnesses reported to police that the pickup truck rolled over twice before coming to a complete stop. Officials confirmed that the truck was driving North on South Street when it crashed with a sedan which was turning from West Street onto North Street. The truck rolled over twice and landed on its wheels. The driver of the sedan was examined at the scene of the accident but did not sustain any injuries. Truck rollover accidents are frightening and sometimes fatal. While we may never know the exact cause of this accident, we know significant damages were caused by this event.

Due to the accident, the intersection was closed for an hour. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation reports that in 2006, 15% of all Massachusetts fatal crashes were rollovers.

Driving while exhausted, distracted, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs can increase your chances of a rollover accident. If your tires are not properly inflated or if your cargo weight is too heavy for your vehicle´s recommended weight, your chances of a rollover are also increased.

A tripped rollover, such as the case above, or a rollover caused by the tires digging into soft soil or hitting an object, can occur due to any of the following circumstances:

• Soft soil on the side of the road
• Guardrail
• A collision with another vehicle
• Steep slope or ditch

If you have been involved in a road accident, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Sources:

Man airlifted in Foxboro crash, The Sun Chronicle, August 10, 2011

Roadway Safety Tips, Massachusetts Department of Transportation

Related Blog Posts:

Vehicle Hit and Rolls Over on Route 9

SUV Rollover Accident in Sandisfield

Man Injured in Mass. Pike Rollover

Continue reading "Foxboro Man Seriously Injured in Rollover Accident" »

The driver of a gasoline tanker truck has died after his tanker crashed into a median in Saugus on Route 1 and exploded. Neal Michaud, 59, from Manchester, N.H., lost control of the vehicle at approximately 2:15 a.m. on Sunday morning. David Procopio, a State Police spokesman, reported that the truck hit the median before rolling over the barrier and into the opposite lane of traffic. Six cars collided into the gasoline truck and an explosion ignited from the leaking oil. It is approximated that the truck was holding up to 11,000 gallons of fuel.

Michaud could not escape from the cab of the truck and he died at the scene of the accident. He was driving the truck for PJ Murphy Transportation of Methuen. The truck was burned to its frame. Several vehicles were also severely damaged and many had their tires burned completely off of their wheels. Three motorists sustained minor injuries and were treated at local hospitals. Procopio confirmed that one motorist, Kevin Fitzgerald, 60, a resident of South Hamilton, sustained severe burns and had emergency surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Approximately 45 minutes after the truck crashed, a second explosion ignited in a nearby creek due to the spilt gasoline leaking into storm-drains. Fire Chief James L. Blanchard said that this fire sent burning embers into a neighborhood, catching fire to a house, two greenhouse buildings, fences, and numerous areas of brush. Blanchard said, “Lights were shaking from the ceilings of homes, and people woke up to see flames in the back of their house.’’

Saugus resident Michael Shaw, 41, woke up to the sounds of explosions: “They sounded like transformers popping off. That’s what I thought it was first, but then three more came…I looked out the window again and I saw a ball of flame rising.’’ His wife, Nicole, 36, said, “There were explosions going down and the embers were flying on top of our house…I grabbed my kids and the dogs and put them in the car.’’

The residential neighborhood was evacuated and 120 residents had to find shelter in the early morning until they were allowed to return home later that day. The Saugus Fire Department reported an eight-alarm response and fire crews from Boston, Revere, Chelsea, Woburn, Somerville, Belmont, Cambridge, Lynn, Lynnfield, Burlington, Danvers, Stoneham, Malden, Winchester, Medford, Wakefield, Everett, and Winthrop responded. Special units from Massport Fire Rescue helped to contain the gasoline fire with chemical foam equipment that is used for putting out airplane fires. Fire Chief Blanchard said, “We had to get foam in there, and we needed lots of it…Without foam, there’s no hope of controlling the fire.’’

Officials confirmed that most of the gas had burned off in the fires and that drinking water was not affected. Edmund Coletta, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection said “It appears that the gasoline was consumed by the fire…Even though it was released into the environment, it appears to have been consumed at this point.’’

State Representative Donald Wong, who toured the scene of the accident and subsequent fire, said, “We’re fortunate that it happened when it happened…If it happened on a weekday when Route 1 is filled with traffic it would have been much worse.’’

State Police are investigating the accident and the cause of the crash. Procopio said the company has a sound safety record and that “Our commercial vehicle team has had interactions with the company in a positive manner. They have a very good safety record.’’

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

Source:

Gas tanker crash creates Route 1 inferno, The Boston Globe, July 24, 2011

Related Blog Posts:

Multiple Vehicle Accident Involving Dump Truck Leaves Several Injured in Uxbridge

Off-Duty Boston Police Officer Collides With Boston Fire Truck

Wheelchair-bound Man Struck by Oil Truck in New Bedford

Continue reading "Blaze in Saugus Caused by Crashed Gas Tanker" »

Three people were severely injured on Thursday night in a car accident with a pick-up truck in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Around 5:30 p.m., a pick-up truck was turning left onto Route 130 from Grand Oak Road and collided head-on with a car coming from the opposite direction. Authorities report that the driver of the pick-up truck was John Spinella, 46, from Forestdale, and Anthony Mastrangelo, 26, from Sandwich, was driving the car. Although no one in the truck was injured, all occupants in the car sustained serious injuries.

According to medical personnel at the scene of the accident, a 20-year-old female passenger had a severe head injury and was taken by a medical helicopter to Boston Medical Center. The two males in the vehicle, including Mastrangelo, were also reported to have serious injuries and were taken to Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital.

Sandwich Police Sargent Joseph Cotter reported that the names of the other two victims are being withheld until their families are notified. The accident is still under investigation.

If you have been injured on the road in car accident, contact one of our experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyers for a free consultation.

Sources:

Three seriously injured in head-on car crash, Fox 25 / MyFoxBoston.com, April 14, 2011

Three people injured in Route 130 crash, Cape Cod Times, April 15, 2011

Continue reading "Head-On Collision in Sandwich Leaves Three Severely Injured " »

A person walking a dog near Dover Road in Millis found the body of an unidentified man who died after his pickup truck veered off the road and into the Charles River. A spokesperson for Norfolk District Attorney William R. Keating said the fatal truck accident most likely occurred between 6am and noon on Sunday.

Investigators are trying to determine if the truck crash was weather-related. Less than a quarter-inch of rain in the Millis area around the time of the accident, but that’s more than enough to create slippery and dangerous driving conditions.

Icy roads across parts of Massachusetts led to multiple smaller car accidents yesterday morning. State police said conditions had improved by mid-afternoon. Several crashes involved vehicles that veered off the highway into the median along Route 20 in Waltham, according to a State Police spokesman. In fact, Waltham police issued an advisory to drivers around 7am yesterday after 15 motor vehicle accidents were reported in the area.

Because snow and icy roads can put drivers at greater risk for an accident, it’s especially important to drive responsibility in times of inclement weather.

Source: Man found dead after pickup veers into Charles River, Boston Globe, December 13, 2010

Continue reading "Man Dies in Millis Truck Accident, Weather May Have Been a Factor" »

A dump tuck reportedly spilled debris which hit a vehicle, causing delays during the morning commute on 195 near the Plymouth Avenue exit. A spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police said the roadway accident occurred at 9:45am. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.

The Massachusetts Highway Department came to clean up the spill, and traffic was routed to a passing lane so that crews could clear the debris as of an hour following the accident.

In addition to debris hitting vehicles or causing distractions, highway accidents can also occur as the result of driver fatigue or inattention, speeding, equipment failture, and negligent maintenance.

Source: Dump truck spills debris on 195, casuses one accident with no injuries, December 9, 2010, Herald News

Continue reading "In Fall River, Dump Truck Accident Causes Accident on 195" »

A Boston Transportation Department tow truck crashed into a Roxbury building Monday night, and work is in progress to prevent a collapse. The truck hit the 61 St. James Street building shortly before 6 p.m., and six families have been displaced.

The driver, who had been placed on administrative leave, submitted to alcohol and drug testing and is cooperating with an investigation. According to the Boston Globe, he told police that his brakes failed. Witnesses have said that the truck wasn’t speeding.

Even when a truck is not speeding, there is still the possibility of negligence. Sometimes, inattention or fatigue can contribute to truck accidents. Where brakes fail, as this driver says was the case here, it’s possible that the truck was maintained negligently or that there was a defective truck part. There are various parties that can be responsible in these kinds of cases, and an attorney can look into all of the possible avenues.

Damage to property, especially a home, can be devastating. Here, the destruction of a building that can house six families is a lot of damage. Property damage claims should be addressed right away. At Altman & Altman, we have recovered compensation for countless clients who have suffered damage to their property as a result of the negligence of another person. We have been doing this for many years, and we’d be happy to speak with you if you think that you might have a claim.

Source: The Boston Globe, Tow truck remains stuck in Roxbury building as crash is probed

Continue reading "Workers Try to Prevent Collapse After Truck Crash into Roxbury Building" »

Earlier this month, a 27-year-old man Massachusetts man was reportedly killed when his Ford pickup truck hit a tree. The single-vehicle accident occurred on Saturday, November 6 at 3:08am. The victim was a former defensive end for Boston College’s football team. He was residing in Salem.

No one else was in the pickup truck at the time of the accident. According to Wicked Local Canton, the Canton Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating the cause of this fatal truck accident.

In cases like this one, where there were no other vehicles involved in a traffic accident, common causes include driver fatigue, medical emergencies such as a heart attack, speed, or alcohol. At this point, it is unknown if any of those were a factor.

Source: Former BC High football player killed in Canton accident, WickedLocal.com, November 12, 2010

Continue reading "Salem Man Dies in Canton Pickup Truck Accident" »

On Saturday night, a Massachusetts man died in a traffic accident after his GMC Sierrra hit a tree of Interstate 84. State police said the 52-year-old man was driving eastbound when his vehicle veered off the road. He was not wearing his seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

The truck accident remains under investigation. An autopsy will also be performed to determine the cause of death.

Here in Massachusetts, all drivers and passengers age 12 years and older are required to wear seat belt. However, exceptions include on-duty postal workers, emergency vehicle passengers and police and fire vehicle drivers, and drivers and passengers of vehicles made before July 1966.

The state’s current seatbelt law went into effective on February 1, 1994. Failure to wear a seat belt is a secondary offense in Massachusetts, but drivers can be fined $25 for a first offense and $25 each for unrestrained passengers 12-16 years old.

Source: Pickup hits tree on I-84 median, killing Massachusetts man, Republican American, November 1, 2010

Continue reading "Templeton Man Dies in Pickup Truck Accident on I-84" »

A traffic accident last month claimed the life of a 23-year-old man from Dedham. He’d played football at Dedham High School and Mount Idea College in Newton, Massachusetts before moving to Maine to work as assistant football coach at Maine Maritime Academy.

According to a sheriff’s report, the man died at the scene of the truck accident after the pickup truck he was driving crashed and rolled over just after midnight on Sunday, October 24. Another assistant football coach was riding in the truck and sustained minor injuries.

Memorial services for the truck rollover victim were held last Friday. The cause of the crash remains unknown, but common causes for truck accidents include driver fatigue or inattention, speeding, non-compliance with federal safety regulations, and an overloaded (or improperly loaded) truck. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, 11% of the traffic fatalities reported in 2008 involved large trucks.

Source: Football coach from Dedham killed in Maine crash, Boston Globe, October 26, 2010

Continue reading "Dedham Native Dies in Pickup Truck Crash" »

On Sunday morning around 3am, a 21-year-old Westport man was involved in a truck accident on Route 6. He reportedly hit a utility pole while replying to a text message. His 2001 Ford Ranger rolled over and trapped him inside. Dartmouth police say the driver was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. The extent of his injuries was unknown.

Massachusetts’ text messaging while driving ban went into effect on September 30. Local police say this was the first serious motor vehicle accident involving text in Dartmouth.

The driver was charged with sending or receiving a text message while driving, failing to stay within marked lanes, and failing to wear a seat belt. The penalty for a first texting while driving offense is $100. That fine increases to $500 for the third offense.

Source: Westport man crashes truck while sending text, WickedLocal.com, October 24, 2010

Continue reading "Westport Man Crashes Truck While Texting" »

A truck accident in Millbury this morning injured a Sutton man after two tractor-trailer collided. The accident occurred around 3:45am on a ramp from Route 122 to Massachusetts Turnpike.

According to state police, the 51-year-old man from Sutton was driving a 2000 Mack truck toward to the toll booth. He was going the correct way, but state police report that another driver, a 33-year-old man from Pennsylvania, was in the wrong lane when their vehicles collided.

The injured driver was treated for minor injuries at UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus in Worcester. The other driver was not injured.

The state police truck investigation unit is still investigating the turnpike accident. Here in Massachusetts, drivers may be ticketed for parking in the wrong direction against traffic. They can also be fined no more than $50 for driving the wrong way down a one-way street.

Source: Wrong-way truck causes accident on Pike ramp, The Telegram, October 14, 2010

Continue reading "Truck Accident Attorneys Discuss Wrong Way Accident" »

Three teenagers sustained injuries when the SUV they were traveling in collided with a tractor-trailer. The accident occurred on Boston Road in Sutton at approximately 1 p.m. on Thursday.

The Dodge SUV, which was being operated by an 18-year-old Sutton resident, crossed the center line on Boston Road and crashed into a Coca-Cola truck.

Rescue crews extracted the driver of the SUV with the Jaws of Life. The driver was then airlifted by Boston Medflight to UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus in Worchester. The young man’s condition was has not yet been made available.

Continue reading "Three Teenagers injured When SUV Collides with Tractor-Trailer" »

Last week, a falling tree in Malden injured a man riding in a black Ford pickup truck that was traveling westbound. The truck accident occurred last Wednesday morning on Pleasant Street. The driver of the pickup truck declined medical attention, but his passenger was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The falling tree crushed the truck’s hood and cab, also striking an eastbound van driven by a 56-year-old Lowell man. The man works as a computer repairman and says this is the second company van destroyed by a falling tree. The previous accident occurred within the past two years, when a tree branch feel on the van in his driveway during an ice storm.

The Malden Department of Public Works cleared away debris from the auto accident.

Source: Tree falls in Malden, injuring truck passenger, Boston Globe, August 26, 2010

Continue reading "Truck Passenger Injured After Tree Falls in Malden" »

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" »

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" »

Our Boston car accident lawyers have learned that a Massachusetts man was seriously injured in an auto accident last Friday.

The 41-year-old Chelmsford man was traveling south on Lily Pond Road near Kimball Road in Gilford, New Hampshire when he lost control of his pickup truck. The vehicle reportedly swerved back and forth before going off Lily Pond Road into a cement culvert. Police say it hit a concrete structure.

The driver was unconscious and suffered serious injuries. Once emergency rescue crews arrived, he had to be extricated from the truck. No other vehicles were involved in the truck crash.

As of Saturday, the injured driver’s condition was unknown. Police say the cause of the truck accident remains under investigation.

Source: Gilford police release truck crash victim's name, Citizen.com, August 1, 2010

Our Massachusetts personal injury lawyers can answer your questions regarding truck, car, bus, or other types of accident. Contact us for a free initial case evaluation.

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

On Tuesday, a runaway dump truck took out several cars and utility poles before it finally came to rest. The truck accident occurred near a busy intersection in Woburn, Massachusetts. Fortunately, no injuries were reported and NSTAR was able to restore the lost power.

The truck’s driver, a Rockland, Massachusetts man told police he had set the parking brake before exiting the vehicle, but he has cited for improper use of equipment. Police say he failed to use the brake. The driver was also cited for six other federal motor carrier safety violations.

The vehicle inspection and insurance were up to date, so police say the truck crash was the result of human error.

Source: Police say dump truck driver failed to use parking brake in Woburn crash, NECN.com, July 21, 2010

Continue reading "Police Say Woburn Truck Crash a Result of Human Error" »

Last Wednesday afternoon, a truck explosion in Tyngsborogh, Massachusetts injured three men. The truck’s driver was in critical condition at Brigham and Women’s Hospital as of Thursday. Massachusetts state police said the truck’s two passengers were also injured. One of the injured truck passengerss was taken by ambulance to Lowell General Hospital and later moved to Brigham and Women’s in Boston. The other was treated at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center for minor injuries.

The three men were headed south on Route 3 near Exit 35 when passing motorists warned the truck driver that the truck rear was smoking. The driver moved into the breakdown lane and tried to open the door, setting off a “combustible explosion,” according to police. Equipment fell over and ignited other supplies in the back of the truck, according to a spokesperson for the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s office.

The Fire Marshall’s Office considers the incident an accident. The truck explosion is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police, the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section.

Source: Two NH men hurt in truck explosion, Nashua Telegram, June 11, 2010

Continue reading "Tyngsborough Truck Explosion Injures Three Men" »

Earlier this week, a Hampton Fall Police officer was dragged by a Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck after the officer had stopped the truck for a violation on Route 84. The officer successfully freed himself from the truck, but he later found the same vehicle after it had crashed one mile away on Route 84. The truck’s driver had sustained fatal injuries.

A female passenger in the pick-up truck was taken by ambulance to Exeter Hospital, where she was treated for serious injuries. Because of the severity of her injuries, she was later transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The police officer who had been dragged by the truck was also treated for minor injuries at Exeter Hospital.

The fatal truck accident remains under investigation.

Source: Seabrook man dies in crash after truck drags officer, Fosters.com, May 12, 2010

Continue reading "New England Truck Accident Kills Driver " »

Police are investigating a truck accident in Danvers that seriously injured a 17-year-old boy. The accident occurred yesterday just before 7:30am when the teen crossed the street and was hit by a cement truck, according to police. He suffered a broken pelvis, contusion, and a gash on his head.

The truck accident victim was taken by ambulance and then MedFlight helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital. As of yesterday afternoon, he was in the intensive care unit and would undergo surgery to repair the fracture on Thursday or Friday. He had stitches for the gash on his head.

The truck accident is still being investigated, but speed was not believed to be a factor. Solar glare may have contributed to the accident.

Source: High school student hit by cement truck in Danvers, Boston Globe, February 4, 2010

Continue reading "Massachusetts Teen Hit by Cement Truck" »

Here in Massachusetts and around the country, safety advocates have been calling for a ban on text messaging while driving, which has been proven to increase the likelihood of an auto crash. On Tuesday, the Transportation Department unveiled its new rule that bans interstate commercial truck and bus drivers from text messaging while driving. Those who violate the rule will be subject to civil or criminal fines up to $2,750.

According to the National Safety Council, text messaging and other cell phone-related activities cause more 1.6 million traffic accidents every year.

The department is working on new rules that cut down on the use of dashboard-mounted computers that some drivers use to communicate with dispatchers. While some companies discourage drivers from using such computers, many truckers still use the devices regularly. The department is also working on regulations that would govern when truckers are permitted to use cell phones for conversation.

Sources: DOT bans texting by bus and commercial truck drivers, USA Today, January 26, 2010
Rule Bans Texting for Truckers and Bus Drivers, New York Times, January 26, 2010

Continue reading "Texting Ban for Truckers and Bus Drivers Announced " »

According to a state police news release, a Chelsea driver faces motor vehicular homicide charges related to a fatal truck accident that occurred on December 8. The Massachusetts Turnpike crash killed a Whitinsville man. The truck driver is charged with motor vehicular homicide by negligence. Charges of marked lanes and breakdown lane violations will heard at a later date.

A preliminary investigation of the truck crash shows that a tractor-trailer unit was being serviced in the breakdown lane when it was hit by another vehicle. The vehicle hit a 36-year-old man who was repairing the tractor-trailer. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the auto accident.

The driver of the disabled tractor-trailer was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus, where he was treated for serious injuries.

Source: Driver in fatal truck accident charged with motor vehicle homicide, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, January 20, 2010

Continue reading "Chelsea Driver Charged in Deadly Truck Accident" »

This morning around 9am, a motor vehicle crash on Route 2 west injured several drivers and seriously injured the driver of a tanker truck that reportedly drove onto the right shoulder of the roadway and rolled over onto the vehicles on its left.

The driver of the tanker truck was cited for speeding and taken by helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. His vehicle was carrying several thousand gallons of diesel fuel, but fortunately none of it spilled. At least one other person was injured and several vehicles crushed.

As a result of the auto collision, authorities closed the road and diverted traffic in both directions. The scene of the accident was cleared roughly two and a half hours later, and the collision is still being investigated.

Source: Tanker truck driver seriously injured after rollover, Boston Globe, January 13, 2010

Continue reading "Several People Injured in Tanker Truck Accident in Massachusetts " »

Last week, a single-vehicle accident on Massachusetts’ Interstate 84 near the Bethel-Danbury line injured a 62-year-old man, sending him to Danbury Hospital with “non-life-threatening injuries.”

According to police, the man’s pickup truck crossed from the left lane to the right shoulder and overturned, ejecting the driver from his vehicle. The man reportedly took his eye off the road when he adjusting the truck’s heater.

Massachusetts state police closed the highway completely while emergency medical personnel rushed to the scene of the truck crash. About an hour after the truck crash, they reopened one lane of traffic. As vehicles funneled past the site of the accident, they were reported to be going about 5-10 miles per hour.

The truck accident is still under investigation and no charges have been filed.

Source: Man hospitalized after I-84 crash in Danbury, NewsTimes.com, December 29, 2009

Continue reading "Danbury Truck Crash Injures One " »

Almost a year after a fire truck crash killed a Massachusetts firefighter returning from a routine medical call, the Suffolk County district attorney has released a lengthy report showing that no one was criminally responsible for the truck accident.

The DA had considered possible charges of manslaughter and motor vehicle homicide for negligent operation but concluded that many factors contributed to the truck accident. The investigation includes 400 pages of reports on safety inspections and 30 interviews.

The truck crash occurred when a 22-ton fire truck crashed into a concrete wall near Parker Hill due to a brake failure. The firefighter sounded the horn of the truck as it descended down the hill to warn other vehicles and pedestrians.

A report from the Boston Fire Department showed that the department had not adequately maintained its fire trucks.

Source: No criminal charges in fatal Boston fire truck crash, NECN.com, December 11, 2009

Continue reading "After Year Long Investigation, No Charges Filed in Fire Truck Crash" »

In Grafton, Massachusetts, a truck accident on the Massachusetts Turnpike killed a 36-year-old man who had just repaired a disabled tanker truck. He was apparently hit and killed by a 2008 Freightliner box truck that hit the tanker truck, then hit him.

The driver of the tanker truck also sustainer serious injuries including a broken arm and was transported by ambulance to UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus in Worchester.

According to the state Department of Transportation, the occurred truck crasharound 9:30am in the westbound portion of the highway. Two lanes of traffic were for roughly two and a half hours during the investigation of the deadly truck accident.

Source: Deadly crash on Pike, Worcester Telegram, December 9, 2009

Continue reading "Truck Accident on Massachusetts Turnpike Kills Whitinsville Man" »

On Monday morning, a motor vehicle accident involving three tractor trailers and one car caused numerous delays on the Massachusetts Turnpike. Around 2:30am, one of the tractor trailers hit a tollbooth at the Weston Tolls on the eastbound side. Although a tollbooth operator was inside the building when the traffic crash occurred, the operator managed to escape injury.

The three trucks involved in the accident were carrying goods including beef, paper goods, and tomatoes, which spilled over the roadway. The driver of the car involved in the Massachusetts Pike accident was taken to the hospital with minor injuries after the vehicle was wedged underneath one of the tractor trailers.

The motor vehicle accident is still under investigation, and the scene of the accident was cleared by around 10:30am. In order to keep traffic flowing, motorists did not have to pay tolls after four lanes of traffic opened in the morning.

Tractor trailers involved in crash at Weston tolls on Pike, WHDH.com, October 26, 2009

Continue reading "Weston Tractor Trailer Crash Causes Delays on Pike" »

On Friday morning, a 50-year-old from Marlborough died after being ejected from his truck in a rollover crash. Police say the man was driving south on Route 66 when his Chevrolet Silverado 2500 truck went off the road just after midnight.

He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the truck accident, and a coroner pronounced him dead on the scene. A 47-year-old from Florida suffered minor injuries, while two other passengers in the truck were not injured.

Police say they believe the truck accident was weather-related, though they have yet to determine the cause of the accident.

Mass. man killed in Forest County accident, GoErie.com, October 17, 2009

Continue reading "Massachusetts Man Dies in Truck Accident" »

The hazards of text messaging while driving well known, but a recent study found that the risk is disproportionately higher for truckers than those behind the wheel of a car. The study, which was conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, found that truckers who text are 23 times more likely to be involved in a traffic crash or get into a near-wreck than an undistracted driver.

The study also found that the greatest risk to car drivers is when they dial a cell phone. A truck driver is 5.9 times more likely than an undistracted driver to get into a motor vehicle accident while dialing a cell phone. Car drivers are 2.8 times more likely. A trucker who reaches for an electronic device increases their accident risk 6.7 times, while a car driver increases risk by 1.4. According to the study, drivers spend five seconds out of a six second window looking away from the road when they are engaged with an electronic device.

The study was based on research from 2004 to 2007, and researchers looked at video footage from cameras inside of vehicles to look at how drivers engage with the road while using their cell phones. Based on these findings, the researchers recommend that drivers forego cell phones while driving, even if they are using a hands-free phone.

Study: Texting while driving more dangerous for truckers, CNN.com, July 28, 2009

Continue reading "Study Finds Texting Puts Truckers at Higher Accident Risk" »

On Friday morning, a dump truck crashed into several parked cars in Cohasset Village. Cohasset police say the truck went onto the sidewalk, hit a large trash container, then crossed into oncoming traffic before hitting an SUV and crashing into three parked cars. The driver, 74, of Cohasset, was taken to South Short Hospital with minor injuries. Miraculously, no one else was injured.

Four vehicles were towed from the scene of the truck crash and parts of Cohasset Village streets were closed for approximately two hours. The accident caused a lot of property damage, so Cohasset police enlisted the help of the Weymouth Police Department's accident reconstruction specialist to assist with the investigation.

The dump truck accident remains under investigation, and no citations have been issued thus far.

Dump truck crashes through Cohasset Village, Patriot Ledger, June 13, 2009

Continue reading "No Injuries in Cohasset Dump Truck Accident " »

In response to a truck accident earlier this month involving a trucker from Massachusetts, legislators are considering a federal bill that would give a tax incentive to trucking companies that install GPS and other high-tech safety equipment. The proposed technology includes automated systems that shut down trucks with an overloaded brake system and warn drivers if their truck strays outside of their lane.

Trucking companies would be allowed to deduct up to $3,500 per truck (for a total of $350,000 per year) through 2014. They could also deduct the cost of buying systems to slow down trucks driving too fast around winding curves. The proposal is part of a larger federal transportation technology bill, which will receive a vote over the next several weeks.

According to a study conducted last year, truck accidents are responsible for nearly 5,000 deaths and over 100,000 injuries.

Federal proposal offers incentives to increase truck safety, Pasadena Star-News, April 24, 2009

Continue reading "Proposed Federal Bill Could Prevent Truck Accidents" »

A truck carrying several cars crashed into several vehicles and a bookstore on the Angeles Crest Highway, so authorities have enacted a 90-day ban on big rigs, which took effect at midnight. Signs now warn drivers that trucks with five or more axles are not allowed on the highway.

The Massachusetts trucker, 43-year-old Marcos Costa, had evidently ignored warning signs and used Angeles Forest Highway, which already prohibits semi-tractor trailers. The highway’s steep grade caused the truck to burn out its brakes, killing two people when it pushed through the intersection and crushed a red Ford sedan. The trucker and twelve other people were injured. Three were in critical condition.

Costa was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and reckless driving. He has been charged with two felony counts of manslaughter relating to the truck crash.

Big rig ban in effect after fatal crash, ABCLocal.com, April 6, 2009

Continue reading "Massachusetts Trucker Involved in Crash, Leading to Big-Rig Ban on Highway" »

On Monday afternoon, a truck accident on Route 128 in Lexington snarled traffic for several miles. The accident occurred just before 5:30pm when a tractor trailer carrying construction equipment hit an overpass.

The truck was traveling down the southbound lane of the highway near the exit to Route 4 and 225, so police had to close the southbound lanes following the tractor trailer accident. They later opened two lanes so that traffic could continue.

According to the state police, the construction equipment came off the truck when it hit the Grove Street bridge. Although three other vehicles hit the equipment on the roadway, no injuries were reported. The accident caused damage to the overpass, but officials expect it to remain open.

MA highway snarled by truck accident, Boston Globe, March 16, 2009

Continue reading "No Injuries in Lexington Truck Accident " »

Last week, the driver a semi tractor-trailer looked away from the road for a moment to reach a bottle of water and set off a nine-car crash. The tractor-trailer veered off-course and rear-ended another vehicle, creating a domino effect that involved several other vehicles. The semi hit the guard rail, turned, and slid into three more vehicles.

Fortunately, only one person sustained injuries severe enough to require a trip to the hospital. A 32-year-old plumber was taken to the hospital and treated for non life-threatening injuries. The driver of the semi truck, a 47-year-old trucker from Ohio, received a ticket for careless driving.

The motor vehicle accident caused police to close off northbound traffic and detour southbound traffic for part of the morning.

Trucker ticketed in 9-car crash in Green Oak Township, Mlive.com, January 27, 2009

Continue reading "Momentary Distraction Leads to a 9-Vehicle Crash " »

An out-of-control fire engine rammed through a gate and crashed into a Mission Hill apartment building, killing a firefighter and seriously injuring another. The firefighter sitting in the driver’s seat died instantly, while the severely injured firefighter was transported to Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he was treated for a head injury. Two more sustained minor injuries and were treated at Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center in Boston.

A nurse who had just parked his car on his way to work at Brigham and Women’s Hospital rushed to aid the injured passengers. "It was a mess, he told the Boston Globe. I'm a little overwhelmed by it all. I just think it was an instinctual thing to help."

City officials speaking to the Globe on condition of anonymity said that the fire truck's breaks may have failed, though the cause of the fire truck has not been confirmed. That same truck was involved in a traffic accident on December 10, but city officials determined that the driver who had crashed into the truck was at fault.

Horrific crash kills firefighter, Boston Globe, January 10, 2009

Continue reading "Fire Engine Crashes Into Mission Hill Apartment Building " »

In Massachusetts, a two vehicle accident forced road closures in between Ludlow and Granby. In Ludlow, West Street at Brook Street were closed to through traffic, and in Granby, East Street at Truby Street was also closed as a result of the accident, which sent a dump truck and its contents into Stony Brook.

Before they could move the truck and reopen the roads, cleanup crews had to empty the contents of the truck. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection also worked to protect the water supply from gas and oil leaks from the damaged truck.

The names or conditions of the drivers involved with the truck accident were not released to the public.

Rollover closes Ludlow & Granby roads, WWLP.com, January 7, 2009

Continue reading "Truck Rollover Closes Roads Connecting Ludlow and Granby" »

A Massachusetts man driving a 2003 GMC Sierra in Derry, New Hampshire is in critical condition after suffering serious injuries in an early morning truck accident a few days after Christmas.

Police say Travis Cook, 20, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts was driving on Island Pond Road toward Route 111 when his pickup truck crossed the median, crashing into a stone wall. The collision occurred just after 2am.

After emergency medical responders discovered the truck accident victim lying in the road, Cook was transported to Parkland Medical Center and later moved to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he is listed in critical condition.

Mass. man in critical after Derry accident, The Eagle-Tribune, December 30, 2008

Continue reading "Chelmsford Man Injured in Truck Accident " »

In Swansea, Massachusetts, cleanup crews worked into the night after a tanker trunk rolled over on Sunday morning on Interstate 195, spilling several thousand gallons of gasoline. According to the fire chief, rescue teams were able to recover about 2,000 gallons of the 12,500 gallons spilled.

State police say that the truck rollover occurred at 5:50am a half-mile from Exit 3, the Swansea Mall exit ramp. Kim Kilbreth, 55, who was driving the trucker reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which came to rest on its right side.

As of Monday morning, the right eastbound lane of I-95 was still closed. State police are investigating the cause of the truck accident. No injuries were reported.

Swansea rollover leads to massive gas spill, SouthCoastToday.com, November 17, 2008

Continue reading "Truck Accident Leaves Gas Spill in Swansea " »

Investigators have concluded the investigation into a truck rollover off Western Avenue in Essex, Massachusetts. As a result of the truck accident, a man was sent to Massachusetts General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The accident occurred in October when John Larry Ayers, 59, was delivering stone to Fisher Corp. Ayers is a driver with Bentley Warren in Ipswich, Massachusetts, and the truck rolled over while he was dumping the stone. Firefighters had to extract Ayer from the truck’s cab using the Jaws of Life. The accident victim was then flown by medical helicopter to a Boston hospital and released after a medical evaluation.

Conducted by Essex police, the Massachusetts State Police truck team, the Massachusetts State Police accident reconstruction team, and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the investigation concluded that the truck accident was the result of operator error. No charged were files, and the case is now closed.

Driver error blamed for truck accident, Gloucester Times, November 4, 2008

Continue reading "Investigation Ends for Essex Truck Accident " »