Peabody Man Seriously Injured, Haverhill Man Dead in Route 128 Crash

Wallace Arnott, 56, of Haverhill was killed in a multi-car crash Wednesday morning on the northbound side of Route 128 in Peabody, as reported by The Eagle Tribune. Kenneth Weeden, 52, of Peabody was another driver involved and was severely injured as a result of the serious accident during the morning commute. The third driver who was involved was Rita Tavarez, 42, of Chelsea, and she reportedly was uninjured in the crash.

The car crash happened around 6:45am in the area of the Lowell Street exit on 128.  Arnott was unresponsive at the scene of the crash and was rushed to a local hospital.  He was then flown by helicopter to a hospital in Boston, where he was pronounced dead some time later.  Weeden was taken to a local hospital as well for treatment of his injuries.  Officials are continuing to investigate the exact cause of the accident, but have determined that it appeared to be a chain reaction of rear-end crashes with the cars driven by Arnott, Weeden and Tavarez. 

Statistics on Deadly Crashes
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 334 people were killed in Massachusetts in 2009 as a direct result of car crashes in the state.  Additionally, 250 fatal accidents occurred that same year that involved one or two vehicles going straight ahead on a highway.  Our sympathies and thoughts go out to the families affected by Wednesday’s multi-vehicle accident in Massachusetts.  

When to Contact a Massachusetts Personal Injury Attorney
If you or someone you know has been in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts due to someone else’s recklessness, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire a lawyer, get this free Massachusetts accidents book to learn how to avoid making the 7 fatal mistakes after an accident.

Contact the Massachusetts personal injury lawyer with Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.  Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.  Call 800-410-2769 to receive a free legal consultation.  And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.      

Two Woonsocket, R.I. Men Killed in Douglas Crash

Marcos Vargas, 40, and Hugo Leonel Garcia-Deleon, 27, both of Woonsocket, Rhode Island died Tuesday morning in a car accident on Route 16 in Douglas  on their way to work. 

The men were heading to Goya Foods of Massachusetts in Webster for a day of work when the Toyota Camry that Vargas was driving crashed into a Goya Foods truck in the opposite lane of travel around 4:30am. 

Joel Lasanta, 28, of North Oxford was operating the truck with Julio Morales, 23, of Webster as his passenger.  Lasanta stated that the Camry was sliding on the roadway and ultimately collided with his truck.  Vargas and Garcia-Deleon were transported to an area hospital but were pronounced dead while there.  The roads already had snow on them by that time and crews had started working on the roadways about 4:00am.

Route 16 was shut down for several hours as authorities investigated the fatal crash.

Massachusetts Accidents Statistics
In 2009, there were 334 individuals who died in Massachusetts as a result of car crashes.  163 of the 334 victims were the operators of the vehicle that they were driving.  Winter weather conditions, such as snow and ice, resulted in nearly 600 fatalities in the U.S. in 2009 on the nation’s roadways. 

When to Contact a Boston Car Accident Lawyer
If you have lost someone you love in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts due to someone else's recklessness, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire any lawyer, get this free Massachusetts accidents book to learn how to avoid making the 7 fatal mistakes after an accident.

Contact the Boston car accident lawyers of Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.

Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.  Call 800-410-2769 to receive a free legal consultation.

And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.

Anthony Nwabude, 26, Dies in Quincy Crash

Anthony Nwabude,26, of Quincy has died from injuries he suffered in a head-on crash in Quincy yesterday.  Nwabude’s vehicle veered across the center line on Wampatuck Road and hit a Jeep that was being driven by Yvonne Fairgrieve, 34, also of Quincy. 

Police reported that Nwabude was not wearing his seatbelt when the accident occurred and he was taken to a local hospital.  Nwabude was pronounced dead a short time later at the hospital.  Fairgrieve was reportedly wearing her seatbelt and was taken to a Boston hospital for treatment of minor injuries he sustained in the deadly crash.

Wampatuck Road was shut down for approximately 2 ½ hours due to emergency responders on the scene and reconstruction efforts to determine the cause of the accident.

Seatbelt Statistics in Fatal Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), wearing a seatbelt can greatly reduce your risk of severe injury or death in the event of a crash.  Roughly 30% of drivers involved in fatal car accidents across the country in 2009 were not wearing seatbelts.  About 50% of occupants in car crashes who were killed nationwide were not wearing their seatbelts that same year.

When to Contact a Massachusetts Car Accidents Lawyer
If you or someone you know has been in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire any lawyer, get this free Massachusetts accidents book to learn how to avoid making the 7 fatal mistakes after an accident.

Contact the Boston personal injury law firm the Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.

Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.  Call 800-410-2769 to receive a free legal consultation.

And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.

Woburn Teenager Dies in Rollover Crash on I-93 in Windham, NH

Joseph Briere, 19, of Woburn died from injuries he sustained in a fatal rollover accident yesterday evening that occurred just after 5:00pm on I-93 South in Windham, NH.

Briere was a passenger in an Isuzu Trooper that was traveling south on the highway when it rolled over in between Exits 3 and 4. The vehicle came to rest on the driver’s side in the middle travel lane of the highway. According to police, the Trooper veered off of the right side of road and hit the guardrail before rolling over. No other vehicles were involved in the tragic crash.

The vehicle was driven by Kyle Ahearn, 19, also of Woburn. There were three passengers besides Briere in the vehicle who were identified as Woburn residents Patrick Raistrick, 18, Shshank Samual, 20, and Ethan Ahearn, 15.

Ahearn and the three passengers besides Briere were transported to an area hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Briere was taken by helicopter to a Boston hospital where he later died.

The accident occurred at the beginning of rush hour, causing traffic to be stopped for miles on 93. The scene of the crash was closed for an hour, with authorities rerouting traffic as best as possible. All lanes were reopened to traffic a little after 9:00pm last night.

Massachusetts Accident Statistics
In 2009, 334 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in Massachusetts. In fatal crashes that involved one or two vehicles that same year, there were 251 instances where the cars involved were driving straight ahead.

Passenger cars were in approximately half of all fatal car crashes in the state, with a total of 215 accidents. In about 30% of deadly accidents in 2009, light trucks were in 136 of them. Rollovers occurred in fatal accidents involving 28 light trucks (including SUVS and minivans) and 27 passenger cars.

When to Contact a Massachusetts Car Accidents Lawyer
If you have lost someone you love in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire any lawyer, get this free Massachusetts accidents book to learn how to avoid making the 7 fatal mistakes after an accident.

Contact the Boston personal injury law firm the Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.

Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases. Call 800-410-2769 to receive a free legal consultation.

And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.

New Bedford’s Kevin Lubin Dies in Lakeville Car Accident

Kevin Lubin, 31, of New Bedford, died in a fatal single car accident in Lakeville on Route 140 this past Saturday night around 8:00pm.  Lubin’s Chevy Lumina reportedly veered off of the road and hit a tree while he was traveling southbound.

It took rescue crews one and a half hours to remove Lubin from his mangled car.  He was the only occupant in the vehicle.  Lubin was declared dead at the scene when he was taken out of the car by emergency personnel.

Both Massachusetts State Police and the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office are looking into how the accident occurred.

Fatal Car Accident Statistics
In 2009, there were 33,808 individuals who died in fatal crashes on U.S. roadways.  Nearly 24,000 of the the total number of victims were male.  Victims aged 25-34 accounted for the highest number of deaths in one age group, with 5,689 victims.  There were 884 fatal crashes in total that occurred across the U.S. in between 6:00 and 9:00pm on Saturdays in 2009, which was the highest number of crashes out of any other day of the week within that timeframe.

When to Contact a Massachusetts Car Accidents Lawyer
If you have lost someone you love in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire any lawyer, get this free Massachusetts accidents book to learn how to avoid making the 7 fatal mistakes after an accident.

Contact the Boston personal injury law firm the Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.

Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.  Call 800-410-2769 to receive a free legal consultation.

And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.      

I-495 Police Chase Ends in Lawrence Crash, Roxbury Driver Dead

Stephen Kelley, 47, of Roxbury, was killed from injuries he sustained after crashing his van into a utility pole off Marston Street in Lawrence this past Saturday afternoon. 

The fatal accident took place while Kelley attempted to outrun state police who had been trying to stop Kelley on I-495 just north in Haverhill.  State troopers reported that Kelley would not stop for them and continued to drive “at a high rate of speed” down the highway.

Authorities received a call that Kelley was driving erratically on the highway up in the Newbury area.  Police caught sight of Kelley in Haverhill and were in pursuit of the Dodge van that he was driving.  Kelley eventually got off of 495 at the Route 110 exit and went onto Marston Street.  He then crashed into the utility pole shortly thereafter.

Kelley was transported to a local hospital for medical attention, where he was pronounced dead.

The fatal collision took place after 2:00pm New Year’s Day and resulted in traffic delays, as Marston Street was shut down in order for police to investigate the crash.  Approximately 700 homes were left without electricity for a short while after the utility pole was hit.

Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident Statistics
Last year there were 334 fatalities in Massachusetts resulting from automobile accidents.  Of the 334 victims, 163 were identified as the drivers involved in the accidents.  Also part of the fatalities in the state last year were 53 victims, aged 45-54, who made up the second highest reported motor vehicle fatalities. 

When to Contact a Massachusetts Car Accidents Lawyer
If you or someone you know has been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire any lawyer, get this free Massachusetts accidents book to learn how to avoid making the 7 fatal mistakes after an accident.

Contact the Boston personal injury law firm the Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.

Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.  Call 800-410-2769 to receive a free legal consultation.

And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.

UMass Professor Dies in Marion Crash

Ronald Herington, 75, of Marion, was killed on the evening of December 17 when his Acura became engulfed in flames after his vehicle crashed into a fire hydrant, hit rocks, and then struck trees on Point Road in Marion.  Local police had received a call just before 8:30pm that night about a car crash near the Kittansett Golf Club.  The caller told the dispatcher that there was a car on fire and that there was someone inside the burning car.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene of the crash and were able to put the car fire out.  Herington was pronounced dead at the scene after being taken from the burnt car.  An autopsy was planned to determine the cause of death.

Herington’s home in Marion had been damaged by a chimney fire back on October 9 of this year and the adjunct business professor at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth had been staying elsewhere while his roof and other necessary repairs were made.  The car crash is currently under investigation by local and state police as they try to uncover what may have caused the tragic crash.

Statistics on Older Drivers
Across the U.S. in 2008, there were about 183,000 older drivers who were injured in car accidents, which corresponded to 8% of all individuals who were hurt in accidents over the course of the year.  Older drivers accounted for 15% of all fatalities when it came to traffic-related accidents that same year.

When to Contact a Massachusetts Car Accidents Lawyer
Have you lost someone you love in a Massachusetts accident due to someone else's recklessness?  Want to know if you have a case?  BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire any lawyer, get this free Massachusetts accidents book to learn how to avoid making the 7 fatal mistakes after an accident.

Contact the Boston personal injury law firm the Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.

Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.  Call 800-410-2769 to receive a free legal consultation.

And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.

Pedestrian Struck and Killed by Bus in Boston

A woman was struck and fatally injured by a shuttle bus this morning as she was crossing the intersection of Ruggles Street and Huntington Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. The woman, about 30 years old, is not yet named by the authorities.

The accident occurred at 8:49 am near the Wentworth Institute of Technology and Longwood Medical Area.

The victim was rushed to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where she died from her injuries sustained in the crash.

According to witness accounts to the police, the woman was caught under the bus.
The bus is a Longwood Medical

Area shuttle, operated by Paul Revere Transportation.

We are deeply sorry for the woman’s death in this tragic bus-pedestrian accident.

Fatal Pedestrian Accidents Statistics
In 2009, 4,092 pedestrians were killed by motor vehicles in the United States. Of them, 56 were struck and killed by buses, mostly while crossing an intersection, or walking in a roadway.

According to NHTSA data, 343 were killed during the morning hours between 6 am and 9 am.

Liability Issues
This fatal accident remains under police investigation. If investigators determine that the bus driver was at fault in this accident, the driver could be held liable for the pedestrian's wrongful death.

In case the accident was caused by negligence or wrongdoing, the victim’s family could seek compensation to cover medical and funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages.

An experienced Boston personal injury lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous roadway condition was a contributing factor in the accident. If that was the case, the city or government agency responsible for maintaining the roadway could also be held liable.

The car accident lawyers at Kiley Law Group have 30 years of experience and successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.

Call 800-410-2769 to receive a Free legal consultation.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.

2 Men Die in Mass Pike Rollover Crash

Two 21-year-old men died and another man suffered serious injuries after an early-morning rollover accident on Sunday on the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90) in Grafton, Massachusetts.

The single-vehicle accident, state police said, occurred around 12:45 a.m. when the driver, Guilherme Sobral, 21, of Worcester, lost control of the Nissan Maxima he was driving westbound on Rte 90, causing the vehicle to roll over.

Sobral’s passenger, Vinicius Martin Pereira, 21, of Framingham, was killed in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. Sobral himself suffered serious injury. He was transported by a medical helicopter to the UMass Medical Center in Worcester, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Another passenger, Raphael Monteiro, 21, of Natick, was seriously injured after he was ejected from the car. Monteiro was also transported to UMass Medical Center where he is being treated.

Car Accidents
According to the NHTSA, 364 people died in Massachusetts motor vehicle accidents in 2008 alone. Of them, 177 were drivers.

Causes and Liability Issues
While the cause of this fatal rollover accident is still being investigated by Massachusetts state police, we can note that many rollover crashes in the U.S. are caused by loss of control over the vehicle because of excessive speed, drunk driving, while negotiating a curve, due to weather conditions, vehicle design and more. 

When to Contact a Massachusetts Car Accident Attorney?
Seriously injured in a car accident in Massachusetts? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want justice?

Call the Massachusetts car accident lawyers at Kiley Law Group. For a free professional evaluation of your case call 1-800-410-2769. The call is free - the advice may be priceless.

The Massachusetts personal injury law firm Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in the article at the time the article was published. Our information sources are clearly cited below the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us. Do not act solely based on the information provided above. Get a consultation. We provide a free confidential consultation to any not at fault persons named in this article.

News Sources: The Boston Channel, NECN, Boston Herald.

62-year-old Taunton Driver Dies in 495 Rollover Crash

Late last Tuesday night, 62-year-old John Kempster, Jr. was killed when he lost control of his car and it rolled over on Route 495 South in Mansfield.

Kempster, of Taunton, was thrown from the car and died as a result of the injuries he sustained. He had been taken to an area hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injuries.

He had been driving in the left lane before Exit 12 on the highway when the accident occurred. When Kempster lost control of his car, the vehicle went onto the median and rolled over many times. Officials closed down the left lane for a couple of hours following the crash for an initial investigation to be conducted.

An investigation into the cause of the crash continues by various departments of the Massachusetts State Police.

If you have recently been in a car accident, contact Massachusetts car accident attorney Thomas M. Kiley for your free consultation.

Also, feel free to download your copy of "The 7 Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Massachusetts Accident Case" today. This Massachusetts auto accidents book is available to Massachusetts residents only.

Attleboro Teen Killed in Bike Crash

A teenager's life was lost in a Friday morning motorcycle accident in Attleboro when he crashed his motorcycle into a mailbox and possibly a car on his way to school.

Police said Myles Brastow, 18, was traveling on a motorcycle to Attleboro High School on Thurber Avenue toward Oakhill Avenue, while a car was coming out of Chapel Hill Drive at the same time.

The driver of the car, a 21-year-old woman, was not injured in the crash. Her name is yet to be released by police.

Brastow suffered fatal injuries, and even though he was taken to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Brastow was wearing a helmet, police said.

This is the third fatal accident involving an Attleboro High School student in the last three years.

News Sources: The Boston Channel, The Sun Chronicle, The Boston Globe.

Newbury Man Killed in I-89 Crash

One man died and another was seriously injured in a single-vehicle accident on I-89 in New London, NH on Friday.

Police said the accident fatality was a 23-year-old Newbury man, Mark Laustsen, while his longtime friend, Thomas Cronin, 22, was seriously injured in the 5 am crash.

Laustsen reportedly drove off the left shoulder of the southbound lane of I-89 into the median embankment, about a mile south of Exit 11 in New London.

The crash sent the vehicle, a 2000 Chevrolet Tracker, to roll over several times before coming to a stop on its tires, while ejecting Laustsen from the vehicle.

Laustsen suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene, police said.

His passenger, Cronin, sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries and was transported to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

Police are still trying to determine the cause of the crash.

According to Laustsen's mother, Janet Laustsen, he was driving back from a friend's house and could have been tired after working a full day as a machinist at Continental Machine in Andover, Mass.

Laustsen and Cronin had been friends since high school, she said.

News Sources: The Concord Monitor, The Union Leader.

Witnesses Say Plaistow Woman Was Speeding in Fatal Crash

The 2007 accident which claimed the life of Robin Young, 42, of Danville, NH when he was struck by a flying car, was a result of speeding, news reports said.

According to three witnesses who testified in Haverhill District Court yesterday, the driver, Marie Pigaga, 50, of Plaistow, was going at high speed when her black 2000 Mercedes-Benz went over a short brick retaining wall at a gas station and struck Young.

An expert from the state police accident reconstruction team calculated that Pigaga's car was going 49 mph when it hit the pedestrian.

Young was severely injured and died a few hours later at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

Pigaga is being tried on a charge of motor vehicle homicide. This would be the third time she as appeared before a Massachusetts court. Her previous two misdemeanor charges ended in mistrials in April, 2009, and February, 2010.

DOT Extends Texting Ban to Truck Drivers

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced at a distracted driving conference yesterday that in-state truck drivers who transport hazardous waste will be banned from sending text messages.

The Washington Post reported that the texting ban which prohibited truckers and commercial bus drivers now includes in-state truckers who who deliver gasoline, propane and other hazardous materials.

The extended texting ban is part of ongoing efforts to ban distracted driving and cell phone-related accidents which claim thousands of lives on US roads every year.

A new goal for LaHood is to get private employers to adopt restrictions on their employees' cellphone use.

President Obama a year ago prohibited federal workers from texting while behind the wheel of government vehicles, and from using government-issued cell phones to text even while driving their own cars.

Lowell Man Gets 1 Year for Double Fatality in Crash

Geoffrey K. Wahome, 22, of Lowell, Mass. has received a sentence of one year for his charges on two motor vehicle homicides related to a car accident in August 1, 2009, the Boston Herald reported.

Wahome, a native of Kenya, was convicted for deaths of a Texas couple, Robert G. Farner, 81, and Chloe K. Farner, 77, of of Cottonwood Shores.

According to the authorities, Wahome struck and killed the Farners while they were in the breakdown lane on I-395 in Webster. The two were changing a tire on their travel trailer.

Wahome was traveling north on I-395 in his 2006 Nissan Altima when the vehicle swerved into the breakdown lane and plowed into the couple's pickup truck and camper.

The Farners were pronounced dead at the scene.

Wahome's “fatigue and inattention” were reported as contributing factors in the accident. He was returning to Lowell after a concert in New Jerseay.

Wahome initially said his car did not come in contact with the victims or their parked vehicle, but police found the Farners' blood and other DNA matter on various parts of his car. 

The Telegram reported that Wahome was sentenced on June 25 to 60 days in the House of Correction for two counts of motor vehicle homicide by negligent driving. However, on July 9, the sentence was revised to one year after learning that some of the facts presented to the court by the defendant about his status as a college student proved to be false.

While in July Wahome's lawyer said he was not prepared to make a decision on whether to withdraw his guilty plea, Wahome announced his decision to accept the sentence yesterday.

Distracted Driving Fatalities Fall by 6%

This summer Massachusetts joined 29 other states that ban texting and driving. The ban, which comes into effect in October, is aimed at reducing accident fatalities and injuries caused by distracted driving.

In an encouraging turn of events, the US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced yesterday that deaths related to distracted driving fell by 6% in 2009. Injuries stemming from distracted driving accidents declined by 4%, he said.

The news which was reported at the second annual Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, DC, can be connected to the 30 states' initiatives to curb dangerous habits like texting while driving in all drivers, but especially teenagers.

According to the Governors' Highway Safety Association (GHSA), last year alone, 12 states: Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming, have have banned the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving.

Thirty states have now introduced texting & driving bans.

Stateline.org reports that while Congress is yet to ban distracted driving on a national level, the GHSA soon may go a step further and aim for a complete ban on mobile phone use while driving.

"Though the GHSA is little known to the general public, endorsement of a total ban could prove pivotal in swaying the debate over the technology America has come to love and the risk it poses on the roadway," The Washington Post reported.

The GHSA is made up of state highway safety officials from across the nation.

The association will decide on endorsement of a complete ban when its annual meeting begins on Sunday, September 26, the Post said.

See the GHSA website for more information.

Family Mourns Brentwood Teen's Death

Family and friends of Chelsea Fuller, 17, of Brentwood are mourning her death in a recent tragic single-vehicle auto accident in Amesbury, Massachusetts.

The teenage girl's life was lost on Tuesday, September 14, when her 2002 Saturn went off I-495 and overturned as she attempted take Exit 54.

Fuller had two other female passengers in the car: Chantay O'Brien, 20, of Fremont, and an unnamed 17-year-old girl from Newburyport, MA. Both were seriously injured.

"She was amazing, caring, helpful. There was nothing that could ever bring her down," one of Fuller's friends said.

Chelsea Fuller attended the Brentwood and Exeter school systems, where she was a member of the Exeter swim team and a cheerleader for the Nor-Rock Vikings and the Prime Time All-Stars Cheering Squad of Rochester.

We offer our sincerest condolences to her family and friends, and wish her injured friends a speedy recovery.

News Source: Union Leader.

Milford Motorcycle SUV Crash Kills One

A fatal motorcycle-car collision in Milford, New Hampshire has left one person dead and one seriously injured.

The accident happened on Sunday afternoon when a southbound motorcycle, operated by Richard B. Clark, 42, of Lyndeborough, collided with a northbound SUV, driven by a Milford driver.

Clark died from his accident injuries while his passenger, Kimberly L. Lambert, 36, of Pepperell, MA was injured and treated at a Massachusetts hospital. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening, the Boston Channel reported.

It is not yet clear if any of the SUV occupants were injured in the crash.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Senior Driver Charged in Fatal Westport Crash

A 77-year-old Dartmouth woman, Alice Pfeninger, will be charged in connection with the Tuesday car accident which claimed the life of Lillian Bono, 86, New Bedford.

The fatal auto accident happened near 681 Old County Road in Westport, MA and involved 2 cars, a Subaru and a Volvo, which collided head on.

Westford police and firefighters responded to the crash and used a mechanical device to extricate the victims from their vehicles.

Herald News reports that Bono died at Charlton memorial Hospital in Fall River.

Police found that Pfeninger's Subaru headed east on Old County Road came into the path of Bono’s Volvo going in the opposite direction.

There were no skid marks on the road.

Fatal Route 9 Crash Suspects Accuse Each Other

The two men who were arrested after their pickup truck struck and killed a highway construction worker on a road project on Route 9 last Tuesday, now each say the other man was behind the wheel at their arraignment in Framingham District Court.

According to police, Jeremy Gardner, 29, of Bridgton, Maine, was the one driving the red pickup when it struck Gregory Vilidnitsky, 57, of Framingham, while the other man in the truck, Walter T. Smith, 39, of Barre, Vermont, was the passenger.

Both men were arrested on operating under the influence.

Vilidnitsky bled to death from his head injury sustained in the crash. He was not immediately discovered after the accident, so it is not known if his life could have been saved in time.

Vilidnitsky would have turned 58 on September 15 - one day after the accident occurred.

To read more about the fatal crash, please click here.