Somerville Crash Claims Life of Everett Teen

Kenneth Belew, 21, of Somerville is facing numerous charges after crashing his car on McGrath Highway near Washington Street in Somerville early this morning, killing a 16-year-old unidentified teenage girl from Everett and injuring 4 other passengers. In an article run by The Boston Globe, Belew was allegedly driving drunk and speeding when he crashed his car along the highway’s concrete barriers around 3:30am after leaving a Somerville house party.

The 16-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by emergency responders. A 17-year-old unidentified teen remains in grave condition in a Boston hospital. Both teenagers were reportedly not wearing their seat belts at the time of crash. The three other passengers were identified as Rafaela Pereira, 19, of Everett, Jerry Altidor, 21, and Rudolph Reis, 20, both of Somerville. Pereira, Altidor, and Reis all sustained minor injuries and it was further reported that all three were wearing their seatbelts.

Belew is facing charges of motor vehicle homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, and failure to observe marked lanes, with the potential for additional charges to be brought against him. He is being booked this afternoon at the Massachusetts State Police barracks in Medford.

Drunk Driving Fatalities
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 1 person dies every 50 minutes in drunk driving accidents across the U.S. and 1 in 3 people will somehow be involved in an accident during their lifetime where alcohol is involved.

When Should You Contact a Boston Auto Accidents Lawyer?
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts due to someone else’s reckless driving, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire a lawyer, contact the Boston auto accidents attorneys with Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.

Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and a 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 your 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.

Update on Fatal Drunk Driving Accident at Andover State Police Barracks

Robert Bryant, 50, of Haverhill was ordered by a Salem Superior Court judge this week to undergo randomly scheduled alcohol screenings while he is free on $10,000 bail, according to The Eagle Tribune. Bryant allegedly struck and killed Cynthia Ray, 30, of Haverhill outside the Andover State Police Barracks on December 12 last year while he was under the influence of alcohol. Bryant then attempted to leave the scene of the fatal accident after hitting Ray with his pickup truck but was followed by a witness, with police following close behind. Ray had stopped by the barracks to pick up a police report for a car accident that her husband had been involved in earlier that same day.

Bryant currently faces charges of motor vehicle homicide while driving drunk, manslaughter, fleeing the scene of a personal injury accident that resulted in death and attempt to commit a crime. He could be sentenced to 15 years for the motor vehicle homicide charge if he’s convicted and 20 years for the manslaughter charge. Following the deadly pedestrian accident, Bryant’s license was automatically suspended for 6 months because he refused to submit to a Breathalyzer test. Bryant has also been ordered not to consume alcohol while on bail, in addition to completing the random alcohol tests.

Bryant is due back in court May 31 for a pre-trial hearing.

When to Contact a Massachusetts Auto Accidents Lawyer
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured or killed 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 a Massachusetts injury attorney 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.

Seekonk Man Faces Drunk Driving Charges in Attleboro Crash

William O’Connell, 55, of Seekonk was in Attleboro District Court yesterday to face charges of operating under the influence of alcohol and driving to endanger, as reported by The Sun Chronicle today. The charges stem from O’Connell crashing his pickup truck into a car in Attleboro this past Saturday afternoon while he was three times over the legal limit, violating Massachusetts OUI laws. O’Connell entered a not guilty plea in court yesterday to answer the charges. The driver of the car that O’Connell struck around 1:00pm on Saturday was Michael Robitaille, 31, of Attleboro.

O’Connell is a truck driver for the city in the public works department, but was not working at the time of the accident. According to police, he registered a .24 BAC (blood alcohol content), which is three times the .08 legal limit in Massachusetts for alcohol in one’s system while driving. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries from the accident. O’Connell will return to court next month.

Legal Limits in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, a BAC of .08 or over while driving is considered illegal.  This limit is lower for drivers who are younger than 21 and those who operate commercial cars and trucks. A conviction for operating under the influence (OUI) in Massachusetts can result in fines anywhere from $500 to $5,000, as well as a prison sentence of over two years. 

In addition, your driver’s license can be suspended for a year. The penalties are significantly higher with each conviction of an OUI. Do your part to avoid a vehicle accident in Massachusetts by not drinking and driving.  

When to Contact a Massachusetts Injury Lawyer
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts because of a drunk driver, 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 a Massachusetts injury attorney 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.

What Massachusetts Should Do to Prevent Drunk Driving

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recently named Massachusetts as one of the worst states in the country in efforts to stop drunk driving on the Commonwealth’s roadways. Massachusetts has only agreed to follow 4 of the 11 guidelines presented by the NTSB in a federal endeavor to put an end to drunk driving. Along with Massachusetts, 22 states are in the same boat, having agreed to less than five of the NTSB’s recommendations. Six other states have been following eight or more of the suggestions and not one of the 50 states has agreed to follow all of them.

Highlights of the NTSB’s recommendations are to have one court manage all of a state’s drunken driving cases, which would help pave the way for consistency in sentencing, and to ban the practice of erasing charges on an offender’s record once they have complied with alcohol-related treatment. Plea bargains in these types of cases are also discouraged by the NTSB.

Other suggestions are to install equipment in an offender’s car that would lock the ignition if alcohol was present and for repeat offenders to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) register as zero. The NTSB encourages states to impound the cars of drunk drivers and to confiscate license plates, in addition to randomly screening for alcohol among the repeat offender population. Treatment plans for drunk drivers lean towards longer-term rehabilitation programs.

The NTSB’s recommendations will result in significantly fewer repeat drunk driving incidents, which translate to fewer fatalities and severe injuries from these accidents that occur all too often.

When to Contact a Boston Car Accidents Lawyer
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts because of a drunk driver, 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 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.

Drunk Driver Crashes Car, Injures Passenger on Route 93 in Boston

Alyssa Connolly, 25, of Weymouth sustained serious head injuries when she was thrown from a vehicle driven by Patrick Fay, 24, of Holbrook, who police say was driving drunk at the time of the Boston crash on Route 93 south near Exit 13 early this past Sunday morning.

Just before 1:00am on Sunday morning, police responded to the single vehicle accident on the highway.  It was reported that Fay lost control of his Toyota Corolla and drove into a snow bank, which then caused the car to roll over and finally come to a stop upside-down on its roof.  Connolly was ejected from the Toyota and was reportedly not wearing her seatbelt.  She was rushed to a Boston hospital for treatment of her injuries.

Fay sustained minor injuries in the accident and started to flee the scene of the crash before he was caught by police.  All but one of the four lanes on 93 south was shut down for several hours following the crash while police analyzed the scene.  Fay entered an innocent plea in response to the charges on Monday.  Fay is due back in Dorchester District Court on February 18, while bail was set for $25,000. 

Seatbelt Statistics in Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that wearing your seatbelt can significantly reduce the risk of serious injury or even death in the event of a car crash.  About 30% of drivers in the U.S. who were involved in fatal car accidents in 2009 were not wearing their seatbelts.  Roughly 50% of U.S. passengers in car accidents who died from injuries that same year were also not wearing their seatbelts.

When to Contact a Boston Car Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured 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 injury 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.

3-Car Crash Leaves Trooper, 3 Others Hurt on Mass Pike

Robert Murangi, 40, of Federal Way, WA, crashed into the back of Massachusetts State Trooper Steven Larocco’s cruiser this past Sunday morning just after 7:00am on the eastbound side of I-90 near Springfield.  The impact of the crash sent the cruiser towards a parked Jeep Liberty, causing the cruiser to hit the Liberty, which was stopped in one of the highway’s lanes. 

Murangi was cited by police for operating his Dodge Avenger with an open container of alcohol and for not using care when stopping.  Larocco sustained serious injuries from the crash and was taken to an area hospital along with Martin Prendergast, 23, of Weymouth who was the driver of the Liberty.  Juliana Muthee, 21, of Brockton, and Christopher Munviri, 26, of Brockton were passengers of Murangi’s and were also taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. 

Police are continuing to investigate why Prendergast had stopped his car partially in the lane.  The eastbound Pike lanes were closed for about three hours while officials investigated the scene.

The Move Over Law and What You Need to Know
In Massachusetts, the Move Over Law went into effect in March of 2009,  making it mandatory for those who are driving towards emergency vehicles that have lights flashing to either a) move over to the next lane or b) if it is not safe to move over, then drivers must reduce their speed in order to pass the emergency vehicles.

If drivers are found to be in violation of this law, they could face up to a $100 fine.  The summer of 2009 saw six State Troopers injured in as many weeks, with one succumbing to his injuries, while they responded to emergencies on Massachusetts roads.

When to Contact a Massachusetts Car Accidents Lawyer
Have you or someone you know been seriously injured 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.

How Buzzed Driving Can Wreck Your Holidays

If you’ve had one or two more drinks than you should have and get behind the wheel of your car, this can all too often be a recipe for a driving disaster.  To raise awareness about how even the slightest buzz makes a big difference on the roadways, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began the Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving campaign. 

 The campaign has its share of eye-catching posters and catchy sayings, which are accessible to anyone through the agency’s website to help spread the word on the dangers of buzzed driving.  In order to dissuade individuals from driving after they’ve been drinking, the NHTSA’s campaign has developed a 3-step approach:

1.    High-visibility law enforcement
2.    Enhanced prosecution and adjudication
3.    Medical screening and limited intervention for alcohol abuse problems

Underage individuals are at a high risk to drink and then drive, along with individuals under the age of 35 in general.  Repeat offenders of driving under the influence are also at an increased risk to drink and drive, as are high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) offenders. 

Men are typically more likely to drive drunk than women.  In 2008 in Massachusetts, there were 116 drivers who had registered BAC levels of 0.08 or more who were in accidents where a fatality occurred.  95 of the 116 drivers were male.

For the rest of this holiday season we encourage all drivers on the roads to please not drink and drive.  The winter weather, just by itself, causes numerous accidents.  Adding alcohol to the mix could make your ride take a fatal turn.

When Should You Contact a Massachusetts Auto Accident Attorney?
If you have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts, and want to know if you have a case, call the Massachusetts personal injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group.

BEFORE you talk to an insurance adjustor, sign ANY forms or hire a lawyer, get a FREE copy of attorney Thomas M. Kiley’s Massachusetts accidents book.

For a free case evaluation call 1-800-410-2769.

Identity Released of Woman Struck, Killed by Drunk Driver

Authorities have released the identity of the 30-year-old woman who was hit by a drunk driver and who later died from her injuries yesterday.
   
Cynthia Anne Ray was struck by a pickup truck operated by 50-year-old Robert Bryant outside of the State Police barracks in Andover.  She had just left the building and was walking towards her car when she was struck by Bryant. Ray and Bryant are both from the Bradford section of Haverhill. Our sympathies go to the family of Cynthia Ray for their loss.

Bryant was in Lawrence District Court today, facing charges that included motor vehicle homicide and operating under the influence.  Not guilty pleas were entered in response to the charges, with Bryant stating that he did not remember hitting the woman with his truck.

Fatal Drunk Driving Accident Statistics
Last year, there were over 4,000 pedestrians hit and killed by cars in the United States. In 2008, impaired or drunk drivers were responsible for the deaths of 12,000 people nationwide. This statistic translates to one individual being killed every 45 minutes by an impaired or drunk driver on the road.

When Should You Contact a Massachusetts Auto Accident Attorney?
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts, and want to know if you have a case, call the Massachusetts personal injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group.

Before you talk to an insurance adjustor, sign any forms or hire a lawyer, get a free copy of attorney Thomas M. Kiley’s Massachusetts accidents book.

For a free case evaluation call 1-800-410-2769.

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.

Woman Struck, Killed by Drunk Driver

Yesterday afternoon, a 31-year-old woman from Bradford was struck by another Bradford resident, 50-year-old Robert Bryant, outside of the Massachusetts State Police barracks in Andover.  The woman, whose name has not been made public, succumbed to her injuries last night at a Boston hospital. 

Bryant had been held overnight on $50,000 cash bail and is being arraigned in court today on motor vehicle homicide and operating under the influence charges.

According to news reports, Bryant was allegedly driving drunk when he hit the woman with his truck in the parking lot as she was walking back to her car at the State Police barracks off of Route 125.  Bryant also hit the woman’s Toyota Highlander, with the woman’s mother inside the car in the passenger seat.  He then tried to drive away after hitting both the woman and her car.  State police caught up with Bryant just before the highway.  Bryant’s pickup truck had lost the right front tire from the impact of the accident, according to state police. 

It was reported that the woman went to the Andover barracks around 3:00pm to pick up accident report paperwork on behalf of her husband, who had been in a car accident earlier in the day on Sunday. 

After Bryant had hit the woman and her car, the woman’s mother ran to get help inside the barracks.  State police discovered the woman to be unconscious on the grass outside of the barracks and immediately administered first aid.  The woman was taken to an area hospital before being transported to a Boston hospital, where she later died.

This tragic accident remains under investigation by state police, with the Essex County District Attorney’s office also assisting in the investigation.

Motor Vehicle Fatality Statistics
Last year, there were more than 4,000 pedestrians hit and killed by cars in the United States.  In 2008, impaired or drunk drivers killed approximately 12,000 people nationwide.  This statistic translates to one person being killed every 45 minutes by an impaired or drunk driver on the road.

When Should You Contact a Massachusetts Auto Accident Attorney?
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts, and want to know if you have a case, call the Massachusetts personal injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group.

Before you talk to an insurance adjustor, sign any forms or hire a lawyer, get a free copy of attorney Thomas M. Kiley’s Massachusetts accidents book.

For a free case evaluation call 1-800-410-2769.

Former Big Dig Boss Admits He Drove Drunk

Matthew Amorello, the former director of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, acknowledged last week that he was driving drunk this past August when he side-swiped two parked cars on a Haverhill street.  His driving license has been suspended for 45 days and he will be required to pay over $500 in fines.

While Amorello did not plead guilty to the charges he faces, it was reported that there is enough evidence against him for a jury to find him guilty.  Haverhill District Court judge Steven Abany ordered the case to be continued without a finding for a year.  If Amorello does not incur additional charges over the next year, the charges he currently faces will be dismissed by the judge.

Amorello drove his car into a couple of cars back in August in Haverhill and he continued to drive off after striking the vehicles, despite having lost one of his own tires in the process. 

The former head of the Big Dig resigned from the highway and tunnel project in 2006 due to mounting pressure after part of the ceiling in a tunnel fell and landed on a car, resulting in the death of a woman from Boston.

Drunk Driving Statistics
In 2008, approximately 12,000 people died from drunk driving incidents nationwide.  While no one was seriously injured in the Amorello case, individuals who drink still get behind the wheel every day and endanger themselves and those around them.  There were 308 fatalities in 2009 in Massachusetts, with a total of 96 of those deaths resulting from drunk driving. 

When should you contact a Massachusetts car accident attorney?
Have you or someone you know been seriously injured in a car accident due to drunk driving 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 and professional evaluation of your case at 1-800-410-2769. 

You can also download or request a copy by mail of  attorney Thomas M. Kiley's free Massachusetts auto accidents book "The 7 Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Massachusetts Accident Case" now!

Drunk Driver Allegedly Hit 4 Cars on Highway

Early this past Friday morning, 24-year-old Rony S. Santos-Cruz is alleged to have collided with four different cars on the highway running between Attleboro and Milton. After hitting the cars just around 5:00am, he ended up in the travel lane on Interstate 93 in Milton near a couple of the vehicles he had reportedly hit.

It was reported that Santos-Cruz acknowledged he was the driver of the Buick that hit the cars. His car showed extensive damage as a result of the collisions on the highway, including a tire that was blown and numerous dents. In addition, Santos-Cruz attempted and failed “multiple” field sobriety tests and had a reading of a blood alcohol level of 0.23, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08. Police are reported to have found beer bottle caps in the car driven by Santos-Cruz.

Upon his arrest, Santos-Cruz, of Quincy, was discovered to have three Massachusetts licenses that were all revoked. In the news article, it was reported that he had been granted a license for this year but had three other applications for a license rejected in 2004 and 2005.

He was arraigned and entered not guilty pleas in court on Friday on various charges, such as driving under the influence, driving with a revoked license, and leaving the scene of an accident that caused serious damage to property. Santos-Cruz posted the $1,000 bail and is expected back in Quincy District Court on December 27.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident, download or request a copy by mail of Massachusetts car accident attorney Thomas M. Kiley's book "The 7 Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Massachusetts Accident Case" now. This free Massachusetts auto accidents book is available to Massachusetts residents only.

The Four Loko Phenomenon

With news story after news story in recent weeks, it’s pretty likely that most everyone knows about the alcohol-meets-caffeine drink Four Loko.

The beverage is a syrupy malt mixture that is comparable to consuming “three beers, a can of Red Bull and a shot of espresso.” While this hasn’t stopped people from drinking it, it’s been reported that Four Loko tastes like cough syrup. It’s also been referred to as “liquid cocaine” and a “blackout in a can,” packing a very potent 12 percent alcohol by volume punch. Both sales and concerns have sky-rocketed for Four Loko, negative press and all. 

The Food and Drug Administration reportedly has plans to place a ban on drinks that contain alcohol and caffeine, with concerns stemming from what Four Loko actually can do to you once you consume it. Over 20 college students nationwide have been hospitalized as a result of drinking the beverage, which has led to some states already placing a ban on the product. Other states are still mulling the possibility of severely regulating or taking Four Loko off the shelves entirely. 

The Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission of Massachusetts will file an emergency ban next Monday as it seeks to completely restrict the sale of Four Loko and similar drinks. The new rule would prohibit the sale of any malt beverage that has alcohol, caffeine, herbal or chemical stimulants as additional ingredients. The makers of Four Loko, Phusion Projects, state on their website that they “take seriously our obligation to market our products only to adults 21 and over.” 
                   

Some stores on the North Shore in Massachusetts have already stopped selling Four Loko, due to the potential for underage drinking and driving. The concerns cited the most have been that Four Loko is essentially a very fast and cheap way (around $3 a can) to get drunk, which is music to the ears of an average teenager. 

Washington is one of the states that has approved of a 120-day emergency ban on the caffeinated cocktail, with a potential permanent ban following. The state decided to take Four Loko off of store shelves after nine freshmen college students became “dangerously drunk,” with alcohol levels reaching up to a staggering 0.35 percent. Emergency personnel who responded to that scene reported it as “chaotic” and initially suspected drug overdoses. 

Michigan is another state that has completely banned the sale of Four Loko, while colleges and universities across the U.S. are warning students on the dangers of drinking it. The city of Somerville in Massachusetts wants to follow in Michigan’s steps by just saying no to Four Loko and calling upon local vendors to stop selling the product.

We’ll find out next week how the Commonwealth’s attempt at the ban will go and until then, drink safely.

When should you contact a Massachusetts car accident attorney?
Has your teenager been seriously injured in a car accident due to drunk driving 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 and professional evaluation of your case at 1-800-410-2769.

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

Halloween: Enjoy Responsibly

With RSVPs to costume parties sent back weeks ago, many people are looking forward to the Halloween festivities this coming weekend. There is, however, a serious side to all of the celebrations that will be taking place because some partygoers will end up driving home drunk.

In 2009, there were a total of 108 alcohol-related car accident fatalities out of a total of 334 victims involved in fatal car accidents in Massachusetts. About a third of all people involved in fatal car crashes last year had an illegal amount of alcohol in their system. Nationwide, a driver’s legal limit is having a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) at .08 or greater. While 334 victims is a decrease from previous years, it is still much too high to tolerate.

Nearly 50 percent of all fatalities in 2009 across the U.S. on Halloween evening (starting from 6:00pm on 10/31 and lasting until 5:59am on 11/1) involved a driver who had a BAC greater than .08. This is a significant number and we can try to do our part to lower it.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced plans for their Impaired Driving Prevention Campaign running from October 25 to October 31, 2010.  This campaign will hopefully be effective in cracking down on drunk driving incidents surrounding the haunted holiday, while also offering safety tips.

With festivities just days away, please take the time to plan ahead for how to safely get back home after a night out. Here are some ideas on ways to enjoy the trick-or-treat weekend but still stay safe:

• See if you can get a designated driver for transportation. If not, then call for a taxi if you live close by or by using some other mode of public transport

• Don’t even think about driving if you’re “buzzed.” Buzzed driving is still drunk driving

• Try to keep an eye on friends around you to prevent them from driving if they’re not sober enough to do so

• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to pick up your cell and call 911. You just might save someone’s life

Simply put, if you think you’ve had one too many drinks (or you know that you have), it’s just not worth it. If you choose to drive drunk, you put yourself and everyone else on the roadway in serious danger.

Plan ahead, be safe, and enjoy this Halloween responsibly.

Haverhill Woman Charged in DUI Crash

A Massachusetts woman was charged with driving under the influence of liquor following a car crash at around 1 am yesterday at Kenoza Avenue and Route 108 (Newton Road) in Haverhill, the Eagle Tribune reported.

The alleged drunken driver, Christine Yacubacci, 43, of Haverhill, was making a left from Kenoza Avenue onto Route 108 when she struck another car driven by Lisa Daoust, 39, also of Haverhill.

Daoust had two passengers in the car with her, Paula Perez and Ramon Morales, both 20. Airbags were deployed in both vehicles.

Yacubacci was given a Breathalyzer test, which she failed, police said, resulting in charges for driving under the influence and a marked lanes violation.

All people involved in the crash were taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

South Attleboro Accident Results in DWI Charges

A minor accident in South Attleboro, MA resulted in drunk driving charges to a Rhode Island woman last Wednesday.

The driver initially refused to get out of her car so it could be towed after the crash, prompting an investigation and a drunk driving arrest.

Linda M. Moreira, 53, of Cumberland, RI pleaded innocent last Thursday in to a second-offense drunken driving charge and following too close to another vehicle, police said.

The Sun Chronicle reported that Moreira was traveling on Route 1 North when she rear-ended another car at the intersection of Route 1 and Highland Avenue.

Police found the two wrecked vehicles in the left-turn lane.

Both vehicles were towed due to damage and because the other driver's license had been suspended in Massachusetts.

Moreira was arrested after she refused to get out of her car. Her breath-alcohol test registered 0.12%, which is higher than the legal limit for intoxication of 0.08%.

Moreira was freed without bail, but must report to probation twice weekly.

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.

Alcohol and Speed Caused Westborough Teen Crashes

Two separate crashes in one week involving teenage Westborough drivers were a result of alcohol, speed and inexperience, police said. A total of six teens were injured in the crashes.

The first crash, which happened on Sunday morning at 4 am, involved an intoxicated driver crashing his car into a tree on Ruggles Street. Police said there were four Westborough High students in the car driven by Vaughn Sewell, 18, who was drunk and speeding.

Sewell did not have a driver's license, only a learner's permit.

According to Massachusetts law, drivers with a learning permit are required to have an adult over 21 with a valid license and at least one year of driving experience in the front passenger's seat. Learning permit drivers are also restricted from driving between the hours of midnight and 5 am unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, which Sewell was not.

All four teens suffered injuries in the crash.

Sewell, his front-seat 16-year-old passenger, and two girls in the back seat (Alina Bayborodin, 17, and another 15-year-old girl who sustained minor injuries) were taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

The second crash happened on Wednesday in which Andrey L. Golenko, 19, crashed his car on Flanders Road. His passenger, Ilya Bely, 18, was seriously injured. Golenko suffered minor injuries.

Golenko also didn't have a license.

Police said this accident was also caused due to excessive speed, alcohol and inexperience.

These two crashes are a sober reminder to teens to take driving more serously. Parents are advised to educate their teens to become responsible drivers since more than one life can be ruined in an auto accident.

We offer our free Safe Driving Contract between Parents and Teenagers to further throw light on this issue.

You can download the contract by visiting Boston car accident attorney Thomas M. Kiley's website.

Mass Highway Worker Killed by Alleged DUI Driver

A Massachusetts Highway worker was hit Tuesday night by an alleged drunken truck driver on Route 9 in Framingham, suffering a fatal head wound, the Boston Herald reported.

To make matters worse, he fell unnoticed bleeding from his wound, police said. The 57-year-old victim was later discovered unconscious in the breakdown lane by a fellow worker. By then it was too late to save his life.

Police could not say how long the man, Gregory Vilidnitsky, of Natick, lay unconscious on the road, while other construction workers were detaining the driver and his passenger, and talking to the police.

The accident happened when a pickup truck driven by an allegedly drunk driver, Jeremy Gardner, 29, of Maine, struck Vilidnitsky along a section of Route 9 that was being repaved around 11:30 pm.

According to prosecutors in the case, Gardner and his passenger Walter Smith, 50, of Vermont are transient construction workers who were working in Wayland and staying at a hotel in Framingham. The two allegedly went out for drinks at a Framingham bar, where Gardner said they each had a “couple pops.”

The two men were returning to their hotel when they hit Vilidnitsky, then plowed into a road work vehicle.

Prosecutors said Gardner ran from the car while Smith tried to drive away the truck which was heavily damaged in the crash.

Construction workers and Middlesex County sheriffs detained the two men in the truck who were later arrested. Police are investigating the cause of the accident, as well as the amount of time that lapsed before discovering Vilidnitsky.

Police said when they found Vilidnitsky unconscious in the breakdown lane he was bleeding heavily from a wound to the back of his head and not breething. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gardner was held on $100,000 bail, while Smith was held on $50,000 bail.

Gardner's charges include operating under the influence, motor vehicle homicide, operating to endanger, speeding, and leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury.

Smith was charged with operating under the influence 3rd offense and leaving the scene of an accident.

Both men pleaded not guilty.

News Sources: Boston Herald, Press Herald, Boston Globe, WHDH, NECN.

Lowell Mourns Officer Killed in Crash

Lowell police veteran, Patrick Johnson, who died in a Saturday crash while he was driving his motorcycle off duty, will be remembered as a great pollice officer who helped take guns off the streets as part of an elite unit focusing on gang activity, and a selfless charity volunteer.

"He was a great officer, a great son, and a great father," said Deputy Superintendent Deborah Friedl. "His colleagues are taking his loss very hard," the Boston Globe reported.

Johnson, 31, who leaves his wife and two small children behind, died after Theary Chan, 26, of Lowell struck Johnson's motorcycle at the intersection of Princeton Boulevard and Foster Street. Chan was arrested on charges which included motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of alcohol.

He was ordered held on $5,000 cash bail at his arraignment yesterday, far lower than the $25,000 requested. Chan is due back in court Oct. 13 for a status hearing.

A wake for Patrick Johnson will be held Wednesday from 3 to 8 pm in Dolan Funeral Home in Chelmsford. A funeral will be held Thursday at 9 am in St. John the Evangelist Parish.

2 Teenagers Held for Car Chase, Crash in Methuen

A high-speed car chase ended in a crash in Methuen last Saturday for two Lawrence teenagers.

18-year-olds Pedro Nieves and Elvin Lantigua have entered innocent pleas in Lawrence District Court in answer to multiple charges stemming from last weekend’s chase and eventual crash. They are both being held on case bail.

Nieves and Lantigua traveled at speeds close to 100mph on Interstate 93, trying to out-race police.

They were chased by police through parts of southern New Hampshire until they crashed their car in Methuen.

Nieves had more charges brought against him, such as felony reckless conduct and driving without a license, among others.