Monday, August 30, 2010

Methuen Drunk Driver Causes Crash, Injures 2

35-year-old Steven Kurelko was driving drunk this past Saturday night, causing him to crash into another car and injure two people while on Route 213 in Methuen.

It was reported that the collision happened just after 9:00pm by Exit 4. Route 213 was then closed for nearly five hours for accident reconstruction and investigation purposes.

Kurelko, a Methuen resident, was arrested by police while he was being treated at Lawrence General Hospital for minor injuries that he sustained from the impact.

Two women in the car that Kurelko had hit were transported to Boston hospitals for medical treatment. Their names have not been released, but the driver was a 52-year-old from North Chelmsford and her passenger was a 60-year-old from Chelmsford. There has yet to be an update on both of their conditions.

State and local authorities are continuing to investigate.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

17-Year-Old Killed in Newton Crash

A 17-year-old boy was killed this past Monday night when his car crashed into a tree in Newton.  The teenager, Adam London, had to be taken from the car by emergency personnel using the Jaws of Life.  Neighbors said that they were not able to open any of the car doors to help get him out.  The fatal one-car accident happened on Bellevue Street just before 10:00pm that night, leaving those who knew London in a state of shock.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office is currently investigating the cause of the accident.

London was set to begin his senior year at Newton North High School, which was opened earlier than scheduled this week for students to gather and grieve together.

Our thoughts are with the London family during this very difficult time.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Agawam Crash Leaves 1 in Critical Condition

A two-car crash in Agawam this past Sunday afternoon resulted in hospital trips for all four people involved.

The driver of one of the cars, 86-year-old Paul Morin, was listed in critical condition at Baystate Medical Center.  20-year-old Mikhail Adzhigirey was the driver of the other car that collided with Morin's car on Suffield Street.  Adzhigirey and his two passengers were also treated at Baystate.  Morin had to be taken out of his car with the Jaws of Life.

While the accident continues to be under investigation by local and state authorities, speed was cited as a contributing factor.  The road had to be shut down for several hours to clear the scene.

Monday, August 23, 2010

C U L8R: Massachusetts Drivers Banned from Texting Next Month

Next month, Massachusetts will become the next state to ban text messaging while driving.

Once September 30 rolls around, Massachusetts is set to be the 29th state to have approved such a ban, which also bars a driver from using the Internet, email, or other applications on a cell phone, laptop, or any other “handheld electronic device.”  Teenagers under the age of 18 will be prohibited from talking on their phones at all while driving.  The ban extends to when drivers are stopped at red lights or stop signs.

There will be an exception: texting will only be allowed in the event of an emergency or if the car is pulled over and in park.  Talking on the cell phone for drivers under the age of 18 will also be allowed if there is an emergency. 

More and more states in the U.S. have added a cell phone or other electronic device distraction category to their motor vehicle crash operator reports.  This new category will track how taking our eyes off the road (for just a second to hit “Send”) can lead to an accident.  One second of distracted driving is one second too long.

If you want to learn more about cell phone bans and legislation in the works across the country, head to this site for more details.

Friday, August 20, 2010

What Are The Most Common Mistakes When Handling A Car Accident Claim?

If you've been injured in an auto accident in Massachusetts, check out this informative video on what the most common mistakes are when handling your car accident claim.



Massachusetts car accident attorney Thomas M. Kiley has been fighting for victims of auto accidents for over 30 years.

Visit the Kiley Law Group website for more information, or order your Free copy of Tom Kiley's book "7 Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Massachusetts Accident Case".

Woman Killed in 4-Car Crash on Route 2

A Gardner woman has died as a result of a 4-car accident just after 2 pm yesterday on Route 2 west by Spring Street in Lexington.


Shannon Gwiazda, 33, was traveling on Route 2 east when her 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser veered into the westbound lanes, hitting a 2008 Cadillac CTS driven by Harvard resident Gina Ashe, 47, Concord Patch reported.

Gwiazda's cruiser then struck a 2009 Kia, driven by Theresa Lamoureaux, 51, of Maynard, before hitting a fourth car, a 1999 Ford pickup truck driven by Mark Saffie, 52, of Methuen.

Gwiazda was pronounced dead at the scene. Two of the drivers, Ashe and Lamoureaux, sustained serious injuries, and were transported to Lahey Clinic in Burlington. The fourth driver, Saffie was not injured.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

News Sources: Concord Patch, Arlington Patch, Lexington Patch.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Man Injured in Rollover Crash on I-95

A young man, age 21, was seriously injured in a rollover accident on I-95 in Foxboro this morning.

News reports said the victim was flown by a medical helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after his car flipped over into the median of I-95 north, close to the Mechanic Street exit around 6:30 am.


According to the authorities, the car came to rest on its roof in the median and the injured man had tried to crawl out of it when rescue officials arrived on the scene.

It was reported that though he suffered serious injuries they do not appear to be life-threatening. The victim's name is not yet released. Based on authorities' addresses for him, he could be from Norton or Holbrook.

The victim was alone in his vehicle 2000 Mercury Marquis.


The accident remains under Mass. state police investigation.

Lawrence Biker Dies in SUV Crash

A tragic motorcycle/SUV collision last night claimed the life of a 25-year-old Lawrence motorcyclist.

According to police, the victim, Johnny Guillermo, wasn't licensed to drive the Yamaha motorcycle he had borrowed from a friend.

It is not clear if Guillermo was an experienced biker or not. It is also not known what caused him to lose control of the motorcycle on Marston Street in Lawrence. In one fatal moment, Guillermo crashed the bike into the opposite lane and into an oncoming SUV.

He was airlifted by medical helicopter to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston where he died from his injuries about two hours after the accident.

Police are investigating the cause of this fatal motorcycle accident.

Find more info on the Injured Biker blog.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Man Seriously Injured in Route 28 Crash

Two accidents happened on Route 28 yesterday - one near Windham, NH, the other near Bourne, Mass.

One man died and two were injured in the first crash between a car and a pickup truck.

One man was seriously injured in the second accident (involving just one vehicle). The victim, a Massachusetts man, was airlifted to a Boston hospital after the 2:20 pm crash on Route 28 south about 1 mile north of the Route 151 interchange.


Both Falmouth and Bourne fire officials responded to the crash scene. They found the man's Saab sedan crashed over a guardrail and down an embankment.

It not yet clear what caused the accident. Police are investigating the crash.

News Source: Cape Cod Online.

Transit Officer Injured in Swampscott Crash

A Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) police officer suffered injuries in an accident in Swampscott, Mass. on Tuesday.

According to news reports, the 34-year-old MBTA police officer lost control of his cruiser and struck four parked vehicles.

One witness said that he saw the cruiser, "It appeared as if there wasn't anybody driving. In other words, there wasn't anybody sitting upright in the seat."

The officer, who is a married father, suffered head injury when his head smashed the cruiser's windshield. He was conscious and talking when medics arrived at the scene. He was rushed to Salem Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. No one else was injured.

The cause of the crash is being investigated.

1 Killed, 2 Injured in Route-28 Crash

One person was killed and two others suffered injuries in last night's 2-vehicle accident on Route 28 near Windham, NH.

The names of the victims were not disclosed by police. For now, all we know is that the accident fatality was a man - he was pronounced dead at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen. The other two people were a man and his female passenger from the other vehicle (a pickup truck).

According to police, the man who died in the crash was travelling on Route 28 south in a white Honda Accord, when around 8 pm he crossed into the northbound lane and struck a red Ford F-150 pickup truck near the Salem/Windham town line.

Police said the Honda driver was "severely entrapped," and it took a lot of effort to extricate him from the wreck.

The cause of the crash is yet to be determined, though speed has been ruled out as a possible factor.

Both vehicles had New Hampshire license plates.

To find more information, please see the Boston Herald article, the Union Leader article, and the WMUR article.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

2 People Die in Route 20 Crash

A tragic head-on collision in Auburn on Saturday resulted in the death of two people.

The fatal 2-car accident happened on Route 20 between South Street and Elm Street near a realty office at 492 Washington Street (another name for Route 20).


According to police, the crash occurred when a Toyota Camry going east on Route 20 collided head-on with an oncoming Mazda.

Both drivers were injured, but the Mazda passengers suffered the most. The Toyota driver received very minor injuries, while the Mazda driver suffered had injuries that were visible but not life threatening, police said.

The two accident fatalities were passengers in the Mazda - both adult males. Their names were not immediately released. Police said none of the victims were from Auburn.

One of the victims was in the backseat and received emergency medical care en route to UMass Memorial Medical Center -- University campus, but to no avail.

The second victims died in the crash. He was in the front seat of the Mazda. 

The accident remains under investigation.

Jeep Crashes Into Bridgewater Home

A Jeep, driven by Daniel Graham, 29, of Bridgewater, crashed into a South Street house yard on Saturday.

The accident occurred as Graham, driving southbound on South Street about 7pm, lost control of the Jeep and struck a pole. The crash sent the vehicle rolling over a few times before landing wheels-up in a shallow side yard next to a house.


A 12-year-old girl, Sam Walsh, was in the house at the time, along with her younger brother. The girl was upstairs when she heard the wreck. Her 7-year-old brother, Luke Walsh, was in the living room.

Outside, just feet away, was the overturned Jeep.

Sam saw the car and the injured drive and used her cell phone to dial 911.

Graham, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered serious injuries to his upper body and face in the crash. He was flown to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and was listed in a good condition yesterday.

The crash is still under investigation.

News Source: Enterprise News.

Andover Head-On Crash Caused by Alcohol

A Lynn man was seriously injured in a head-on car/van collision on Route 114 last weekend. Police believe the Friday night crash occurred due to drunk driving.

According to the authorities, the Lynn driver, Donald Morales Lopez was traveling in his Toyota on Route 114 west when he veered into oncoming traffic near the Middleton line around 10 pm on Friday.

Morales Lopez  lost control and his Toyota collided with a van driven by Marek Torlinski, 32, of Peabody.

Both men suffered injuries - Morales Lopez even got seriously injured. Both Torlinski and Morales Lopez were taken to Lawrence General Hospital, and were later released.

Morales Lopez was wearing a seat belt, police said. 

While the accident remains under investigation, police said they believe alcohol may have been a contributing factor. It is not yet sure if speed was also a factor in the crash, or if any charges will be filed.


News Source: The Eagle Tribune.

Monday, August 16, 2010

3 People Injured in Leominster Crash

Another Friday afternoon accident, this time on Union Street in Leominster, sent 3 people to the hospital, two with life-threatening injuries.

According to police, the 2-car accident occurred when Norman Henry of Leominster, driving a blue sedan, rear-ended a couple driving a red Toyota as they attempted to take a left turn onto Tisdale Street.


The male driver in the red Toyota was thrown into the back seat in the crash.

Both people in the Toyotoa, Michael Tantillo of Leominster and Elizabeth McCann of Bolton, were trapped in, so Fire Department rescue workers had to use the Jaws of Life to save them from the vehicle.

Deputy Fire Chief Scott Cordio said, "We tried to have them LifeFlighted, but helicopters in Worcester and Boston were tied up."

Tantillo and McCann were rushed to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, while the Henry was taken to HealthAlliance Hospital/Leominster.

The sedan driver, Henry, is facing charges of operating under the influence of liquor, operating a motor vehicle negligently, a marked lanes violation and speeding as a result of an accident.

According to witnesses, Henry was speeding and allegedly drunk when he rear-ended the couple.

This accident is another example of the destructive power of alcohol while operating a vehicle. We hope that Tantillo and McCann will have a speedy and full recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

Fall River Woman Killed in Friday Crash

Last Friday, Aug 13th, was particularly deadly in terms of motor vehicle accidents in Massachusetts.

One 23-year-old Franklin woman was killed in a 495 accident (near Westford) when she was struck by a car while walking in the high-speed lane of the interstate.

Another fatal accident occured in Randolph in which one person died in an SUV rollover.

Yet another victim was killed in a pickup truck rollover crash on Route 24 in Stoughton on Friday morning. A 51-year-old Fall River woman died in the accident which also seriously injured a passenger in her vehicle.

According to police, the 1995 Toyota T100 pickup was traveling north on Route 24 when it veered off the road to the right, then corrected the and crossed all three lanes to its left and struck the median guardrail. The crash caused the pickup truck to roll over the guardrail and stop on the southbound side of the highway.

The driver, Neuza Nascimento, 51, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her passenger, Jose Filho, 54, also of Fall River, was seriously injured. He was rushed by ambulance to Boston Medical Center.

Both Nascimento and Filho were wearing seatbelts and neither was ejected.

According to preliminary evidence, Nascimento may have fallen asleep at the wheel. However, the crash remains under police investigation.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Franklin Woman Killed in 495 Crash

This Friday 13 started off on a somber note with the news of two fatal car accidents.

In the first one, a 23-year-old woman from Franklin, Mass. was killed on I-495 in Westford early this morning as she was walking in the high-speed lane on the interstate - she got struck by at least one car and died around 4 am this morning.

The unnamed woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is not yet clear why she was walking in the fastest lane of 495. What was she doing there?

Police are still searching for the answers. No charges have been filed yet.

Another fatal accident occurred on Route 24 South in Randolph. A yet-unnamed person died in the SUV rollover.

There is no word on the causes behind that accident either.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Senior Driver Crashes into Newton Deli

A 77 year-old driver from Framingham, Mass. crashed his car into a Newton deli and struck a woman inside the building.

According to news reports, the car first jumped the curb, and crashed inside the deli injuring one woman who was reading a menu inside Barry's Village Deli.

The woman was transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The senior driver was also injured and was transported to the same hospital.

It wasn't clear what caused the crash.

Truck Driver Crashes Into Tree in Bourne

A truck driver crashed into a tree in Bourne, Mass. on Tuesday afternoon sustaining injuries so serious that a MedFlight helicopter was called to transport him to a Boston hospital.

The injured man was apparently in his early 50s.

The single-vehicle accident happened around 2pm on Shore Road near County Road in Bourne.


The crash is still under investigation, and there is no word on the driver's current condition.

2 Injured in Somerville Truck Crash

Two people were injured in a truck/SUV accident in Somerville, Mass. this mornng.
The box truck and the SUV (Toyota Highlander) collided near the intersection of McGrath Highway and Mystic Avenue in the 8 am crash.

Both drivers were injured, the Toyota driver suffering serious injuries, and were taken to Mass. General Hospital.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

News Source: Boston Herald.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Lynn Driver Injures Pedestrian in Crash

A Lynn man was arraigned in court yesterday on charges in an accident that seriously injured a pedestrian on Monday night.

Luis Agustin, 20, allegedly drove a small black 1995 Honda Civic without headlights on at a high speed through a stop sign and seriously injured a pedestrian. The 22-year-old pedestrian victim was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Agustin was 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.

Agustin was ordered held in lieu of $20,000 cash bail. A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for September 9.

Cyclist Dies in Crash w/ Car in Brighton

Bicyclists are some of the most vulnerable people on the roads, and even the smallest mistake either on their part or on the part of motorists can have devastating effects on their lives. 

A young life was lost in an accident on Monday - a 24-year-old woman, whose identity was not released, died after she was stuck by a car while cycling without a helmet in Brighton.


The crash occurred on Commonwealth Avenue near the intersection with Kelton Street. The woman's a purple bicycle was damaged, news reports noted, but even worse, she suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

She suffered from "serious head trauma," a spokeswoman for the Boston EMS, Jennifer Mehigan, said, which "could have been avoided, had she been wearing a helmet."

The crash between the car and the bicycle was an accident, Boston police spokesman said. The driver will not be charged.

According to witness reports the woman was riding down a steep hill in the service lane of Commonwealth Avenue when she was struck.

She was the second bicyclist fatally stuck this year in a city the mayor wants to make "world class" for cycling, the Boston Globe reported.

This tragic loss of life further emphasizes the importance of wearing helmets.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

2 Revere Sisters Trapped in a Rollover Crash

Two Revere sisters were trapped in their vehicle following a rollover accident in Lynn, Massachusetts on Sunday.

The sisters were rescued by three Lynn men who were fishing around midnight.

They were the first to be at the scene of the crash which happened on the Fox Hill Bridge on Rt. 107. The men helped save Ta Hou, 21, and her sister Sokha Hou, 22, from their 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass.


They rushed to the vehicle, kicked in a passenger window and got Sokha out.

When the men pulled Ta Hou out, they found her unresponsive and a piece of her scalp was on the ground with a huge pool of blood. However, when they put her on her side she soon spit up blood and started breathing, they said.

If they were not there, she would not have made it and would probably have choked on her own blood.

Ta Hou was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital and is listed in stable condition, while Sokha was treated in Salem Hospital and has been released.

The reason of the accident is still under investigation.


News Source: The Daily Item of Lynn.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Weekend Crashes in Massachusetts

Here is a summary of the most recent motor vehicle accidents that occurred over the weekend ( Aug 6 - Aug 8) in Massachusetts.

- A Cape Cod rider, Alan Hurwitz, 52, of East Falmouth, died on Friday after his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck in at the intersection of Turner and Thomas B. Landers roads in Falmouth. Hurwitz was flown to Massachusetts General Hospital, but died a few hours later. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, police said.

- Police chase ended in a stolen car crash in Sutton, MA on Friday. The chase began on Route 146 and ended with a car crash into a tree on Boston Road and the arrests of three people: William Rodriguez, 17, of Worcester, and two passengers Dennis Cruz, 17, and Ezequera Cruz, 19, both of New Bedford.

Rodriguez was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, failure to stop on the signal of a police officer, negligent driving, and speeding. His passengers were charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle.

- A Whitman man, David Gargon, 43, was in critical condition in the intensive care unit at UMass Memorial Medical Center over the weekend following a 3-vehicle crash in Grafton on Friday.

Gargon was injured when his Toyota Tundra pickup truck struck a Ford Escort stopped in the eastbound breakdown lane, and then hit a 2002 Freightliner tractor-trailer truck stopped in traffic. According to police, Gargon was speeding in the breakdown lane when the accident occurred. The other drivers were not injured.

- An off-duty Boston police officer, Michael Long, 38, driving through a construction site struck a civilian flagger in Dedham Friday morning.

Officer Long, an 11-year veteran of the Boston police, was making a left turn onto Washington Street in his Ford Expedition when the passenger-side mirror struck the construction worker James Leydon, 58, in the elbow. Long drove on, saying later that he wasn't aware he struck anybody. Dedham police do not plan to file charges against Long.

- A 2-car crash on I-91 after 5 pm on Saturday caused 3 injuries and hours of traffic delays in West Springfiled. The crash occurred just south of Mass. Turnpike exit 14 when a 2000 Isuzu Rodeo driven by Heraldo Tapia (who didn't have a driver's license), 51, rolled over after crashing with a Nissan Murano.

- Matthew Amorello, the former Massachusetts Turnpike Authority chief was arrested for drunken driving after he crashed his car into two parked vehicles in Haverhill early Saturday morning. See more here.

- A Hampden biker was killed in a crash on Sunday after his motorcycle struck a utility pole on Wilbraham Road in Hampden. Stephen R. Came, 57, died before the emergency crews arrived at the scene.

Ex-Mass-Turnpike Chief Arrested for DUI

Matthew Amorello, the former Massachusetts Turnpike Authority chief was arrested for drunken driving following a crash in Haverhill early Saturday morning.

Amorello, 52, of Wenham, was allegedly drunk when he struck two parked cars belonging to residents at 342-344 River St. in Haverhill.


Amorello, 52, of Wenham, was charged with operating under the influence of liquor and two counts of leaving the scene of property damage.

The owners of the 2 damaged vehicles, Leonor Santos, 37, and Ricardo Martinez, 33, said they are mad at Amorello for heavily damaging their cars, but thankful he didn't hit the telephone pole that sits in front of the apartment house, news reports said.

Amorello was injured in the crash. He failed to appear in court to face drunken driving charges today, prompting the judge to issue an arrest warrant. Amorello's absence may be due to his injuries and he may still be at the hospital.

According to witnesses Amorello left the scene of the crash and tried to hide in his car in a nearby car dealership, the Eagle Tribune reports. Haverhill police did not immediately release any details of the incident.

Amorello served as a Mass. Turnpike Authority chairman from 2002 to 2006.

He resigned July 27, 2006 at the urging of then-Governor Mitt Romney after a ceiling tile inside the Ted Williams Tunnel let go, striking a vehicle and killing a 38-year-old Jamaica Plain woman.

News Sources: Eagle Tribune, Boston Channel, Boston Globe.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Mass. Auto-Repair Bill Fails to Pass


The "Right to Repair" bill that would have allowed Massachusetts residents to get their vehicles fixed at a wider range of locations has failed to gain approval in by the Senate in July.

The bill never came up for a House vote before the end of legislative session last Saturday, news reports said.

It is bad news for Mass. drivers since the bill would have let them repair their cars at authorized dealerships and independent auto dealerships, since it would have required authorized dealerships to sell the correct codes, tools and information needed to repair cars to independent ones.

Without such information independent dealerships cannot repair many cars.

Opponents of the bill argue that releasing such proprietary information would give a competitive advantage to makers of generic parts.

If passed, Massachusetts would have become the first US state to pass such a measure.

Boston Cop Struck by Car

Like an endless stream of car incidents involving police officers, here comes the latest news of a Boston police officer getting struck by a car at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Harrison Avenue yesterday.


The officer, who was not named in the article, was directing traffic at a construction detail at the intersection.

He was struck around 8:00 a.m. by a car attempting to take a left turn from harrison Ave onto Massachusetts Ave. The police officer blew his whistle to warn the car to stop, but it continued forward, knocking the officer to the ground.

The officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Boston Medical Center for treatment.

The driver said he did not see the officer in front of him, even though he wore his bright green fluorescent vest.

He has been charged with civil infractions of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

Chicopee Man Breaks In "Bait Car"

A "bait car" planted by police lured in a repeat offender to break in and get arrested in Hadley on Monday.

News reports said that the 37-year-old Chicopee man was arrested after he broke into the bait car to steal the electronic equipment inside it in a University of Massachusetts parking lot, and then tried to flee from the scene while running down two campus police officers.

John J. Calver Jr., 37, was apprehended on Route 9 in Hadley following a pursuit from the UMass campus.

He was charged with two counts each of breaking and entering into an auto, larceny over $250, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault with intent to commit a felony, and three counts of leaving the scene of an accident.

In addition, Calver was also charged with driving without a license, speeding, possession of burglary tools, reckless driving, failure to stop for a police officer and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

At his arraignment Tuesday in Belchertown District Court, he was ordered held in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Calver was arrested as after reports of multiple car breaks at UMass during the course of last week in which laptops and dashboard navigation systems were stolen. Hence the bait car stuffed with electronic equipment (a laptop and other electronics) clearly visible.

Police watched from a distance as Calver approached the car, entered it and removed the electronics. When police went after him, Calver attempted to drive off in his car, nearly hitting two officers.

Calver may face additional charges in connection with similar breaks in surrounding communities, including Amherst and Hadley, police said.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

2 People in I-495 Crash Will Not Be Charged

This is an update on our recent blog post about the police chase ending in a car crash on I-495 in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

The driver, Jeremy Rosado, 22, of Haverhill is still being held by police, but two other people involved in the car chase will not be charged.

One of them was a passenger in the car, Joseph Rodriguez also of Haverhill, and the other is the woman who lent the rental car to the man Rosado, police said. The woman did not know that Rosado's driver's license had been revoked.

Rosado was captured after fleeing the scene of the accident which occurred on Tuesday. He had crashed the car at the Route 213 off-ramp in Methuen, then ran away and was eventually captured thanks to joint effort by Methuen police, State Police and a State Police helicopter.

Rodriguez also fled from the scene and was not found Tuesday after an extensive search. He was later reached at his home.

Rosado faces charges of driving to endanger, failing to stop for a police officer, driving after revocation of his license and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage.

He was arraigned yesterday in Haverhill District Court and was held on $10,000 cash bail.

Franklin Police Officer Struck by Car on 495

After months of hearing about vehicle accidents in which Massachusetts police officers got injured or killed by motor vehicles while they were working details on Massachusetts roads, here comes the newest story in which a Franklin cop got struck and injured by a passing vehicle in a hit-and-run accident.

In this case, police officer Edward Clifford was struck by a car Wednesday afternoon while working a construction detail on an off ramp on 495. The driver hit him and fled the scene, news reports said.

The driver Ari Cunard, 25 was arrested. Cunard reportedly continued driving after hitting Clifford, even after construction workers banged on her car windows.

Cunard was charged with driving to endanger and leaving the scene of an accident, but she pleaded not guilty. We'll write on the further developments on this story.

In the meantime, a piece of good news - Officer Clifford has been released from the hospital and is on the mend.

We wish him a speedy recovery.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

2 Women Injured in Van Rollover Accident

Two women from Athol, Massachusetts were injured in a van rollover accident in Winchester on Monday.


Bonita-Micheale Aloisio, 24, and Elizabeth Rivera, 44, were travelling in a Dodge Caravan south on Route 10 when the accident occurred.

The driver, Aloisio, attempted a left turn onto Route 78, when the vehicle was struck by a Toyota Tacoma truck headed north on Route 10, driven by Paul Aloisi, 63, of Merrimack.

According to police and witnesses, as both vehicles approached the intersection, Aloisio did not stop when her light turned green.

The crash caused the van to roll over on its roof. Aloisio and Rivera suffered minor injuries and were taken to a Massachusetts hospital.

The truck driver, Aloisi was not injured.

Speed and alcohol are not factors in the crash, police said.

News Source: Sentinel Source.

1 Arrested, 1 Still at Large in Methuen Car Crash

A police chase ending in a stolen car crash in Methuen, Mass. led to the arrest of one man and the ongoing search for another.

Police arrested Jeremy Rosado, 22, of Haverhill, and are still searching for Joseph Rodriguez, also of Haverhill, the Eagle Tribune reported.

Both men face charges, including car theft and failure to stop for police.

They also have several outstanding warrants for a previous crimes.

Yesterday's chase started in the morning on I-495 when they crashed their stolen car at the exit ramp to Route 213 West.

Rosado and Rodriguez fled from the wrecked vehicle, running across both lanes of 495, and through a marshy, wooded area before climbing over a chain-link fence and emerging from behind Building 1 of Colonial Village, located on Independence Drive in Methuen.

They were seen by a woman living in the building. She called the police, saying the two men were headed up Independence Drive toward Route 113.

Local police then launched a major search for the men, even including a State Police helicopter.

Another woman in a different naighbordhood spotted one man (Rosado) crouching behind some bushes. Police chased him down and arrested him.

Rosado sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment, but he will be transported to Haverhill to be booked and arraigned.

Police believe that Rodriguez is headed back toward Haverhill.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

2 Mass. Women Injured in School Bus Crash

Two Massachusetts women were injured in a bus-car collision in Lebannon, ME.
 
Maine police were looking for a school bus with front end damage sustained after the bus driver hit a car on Monday around noon.

News reports said the school bus rear-ended the car on the Carl Broggi Highway, pushing it off the road. Instead of stopping, the bus driver fled the scene of the accident.
Two women from Massachusetts who were in the struck car at the time suffered minor injuries.

The bus in question may have been retired, police said, since the school department did not operate buses in the area at the time.

Anyone with information regarding this accident is asked to come forth.

News Sources: WMTW.

Mass. Man Injured in Rollover Pickup Truck Crash

A Massachusetts man was injured in a rollover pickup truck crash in New Hampshire on Friday, sustaining injuries.


The man, David Moore, 41, of Chelmsford, Mass. was travelling in his pickup truck on on Lily Pond Road in Gilford, NH, when he lost control over the vehicle, went off the road and crashed into a concrete structure rolling over and landing on its roof.

Moore was trapped inside the truck and unresponsive, so rescue workers used the Jaws Of Life get him out. According to officials, the truck was greatly damaged in the crash.

Moore was first taken to Lakes Region General Hospital and then flown to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center with serious injuries.

It is not yet clear what caused the accident.

News Sources: WMUR, The Citizen of Laconia.

Mass. Trooper Crashes in Utility Poles in Quincy

A Massachusetts State Police Trooper was injured last Thursday after crashing into utility poles and a parked vehicle.

He first side-swiped one utility pole, then crashed into a parked car, and then struck a second utility pole, at the intersection of Billings and Atlantic Streets in Quincy, Massachusetts.


The trooper was working a detail in Quincy at the time of the crash. It wasn't reported what caused the accident.

The injured trooper was treated at Beth Israel Hospital for minor injuries.

News Source: The Examiner.

Monday, August 2, 2010

ATV Rules Toughened

New rules governing All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are aimed at restricting use and decreasing injury in children.

While ATV enthusiasts may criticise the new legislation, parents whose children have been killed or injured in ATV-related crashes are praising the change.


The new ATV bill, also known as "Sean's Bill" - in memory of the 8-year-old Plymouth boy killed in a 2006 ATV accident - will keep riders too young from operating powerful ATVs.

Mass. Governor Deval Patrick is expected to sign the bill into law shortly.

Once signed, the new law would prohibit children under 14 years old from driving ATVs, except at sanctioned races. The previous ATV age limit for children was 10 years old and up.

In addition, the bill sets a maximum engine size of 90 cubic centimeters for riders between 14 and 16 years old who must have adult supervision.

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 74 children under 16 were killed in ATV-related accidents in 2008, while 37,700 were seriously injured.

Until the new bill comes into effect, children and adults should take vehicle safety and responsibility courses.

To find more information on ATV operating safety tips, please click here.


Sources: The Boston Globe, CPSC.

2 Waltham Teens Arrested After Crash

Two Waltham, Massachusetts teens were arrested for motor vehicle theft following a car crash, and a search and struggle with police officers on Thursday.

The teenagers, Michael Foley, 17 and David J. Weinstein, 19 of Waltham were suspects in car breaks and thefts in the greater Boston area prior to their arrest.

According to police, Foley lost control of the stolen red Chevrolet Blazer he was driving and struck a telephone pole near the Sandy Bay Terrace apartment complex. He still continued down the road, parking the badly damaged vehicle in a hendicap spot, and fled together with Weinstein.

The two men were seen running from the scene and hiding behind a shed near the apartment buildings.

Weinstein surrendered to police officers searching the area. Foley was also taken into custody, after being restrained by more than a half dozen officers who responded to the scene.

According to Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) records, Foley does not have a license and his right to drive has been suspended.

Foley was also charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle; operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license; two counts of resisting arrest; four counts of assault and battery on a police officer; and leaving the scene of an accident.

Weinstein was charged with receiving a stolen vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident, and three counts of larceny from a motor vehicle.

Both Foley and Weinstein have previous criminal warrants for a number of car break-ins and car thefts in Norwood and Waltham, police said, as well as pending cases in two other courts.

Foley was arraigned and ordered held on $5,000 bail in Gloucester District Court. Weinstein's bail was $1,500.


News Sources: Gloucester Daily Times.

3 People Injured in Newburyport Minivan Crash

A senior driver operating a minivan in Newburyport, Massachusetts lost control of his vehicle and struck 3 people watching the homecoming parade on Sunday afternoon.


Eyewitnesses said that the minivan was spotted accelerating at about 45 mph before the crash which occurred around 2:17 p.m.

The 91-year-old driver of the red minivan, Harold Teague, of Newburyport, struck 3 people just as the parade was wrapping up, police said.

Among the three injured were husband and a wife, who were trying to go across a crosswalk at the parade.The van instead of stopping, accelerated and crossed into the opposite lane of traffic, hitting the woman head-on.

Police said that the woman kind of flew in the air, then landed on the hood of a vehicle, and then fell on the road under the minivan's tires. According to the police, one of the tires brushed against the woman's head.

Again, instead of stopping, Teague accelerated across the street and hit a rock, coming to a stop at the opposite side of the street.

Emergency workers examined the woman. She was later listed in "serious but stable condition" at a local hospital. Her husband was also injured by the minivan, but not as seriously.

Teague's son was in the passenger seat when the accident occurred.

It is not clear whether mechanical problems caused Teague to speed at about 45 mph and lose control of the minivan. Teague's vehicle is to be inspected today for problems with the accelerator.

News Sources: The Boston Channel.