crash_reports: 1900000919

On 9/08/19 Kevin Coston came into NPD Headquarters to report a MV/Ped with Injury that had occurred on 8/23/19 at about 06:15 in the parking lot of Whole Foods (916 Walnut Street). The RP stated that he had left work (Whole Foods) at the back receiving door and was walking to his car, he bent over to take his knee pads off, while he was doing this he was struck by a delivery van that backed into him. The driver took out his headphones and said sorry before driving away. RP stated that he told the driver that he had been hit but the driver just drove away. RP went to hospital (Faulkner) on his own for lower back pain and has not been to work since. RP was able to take picture of the side of the delivery van. The van belonged to Shortstop Distribution Inc (508-655-5948). RP left a message that morning. He was texted by Gedeon (786-352-6695) who stated there was a language barrier and he didn't understand what had happened. RP advised Gedeon to talk to his lawyer or the police. Exact location of accident unknown. Diagram is a estimate. Report printed out and placed in traffic box for follow up. Traffic Bureau Update (Officer Gaudet): On Monday, September 9, 2019 I attempted to make contact with the operator if MV1, Gedeon Duarte, with a negative result. A Hit and Run motor vehicle inquiry was mailed to Duarte. I spoke with the injured party, Kevin Coston, via telephone on September 9, 2019. Coston stated he is an employee at the Whole Foods located at 916 Walnut Street, Newton. Coston stated on August 23, 2019 a black van backed into him as he was kneeling on the ground taking off his knee pads in the loading area of the store. Coston stated he approached the driver who remained in the vehicle to speak with him after he was hit. Coston described the driver as a heavy set Spanish male. Coston stated the operator of the vehicle rolled down his window, took his headphones out of his ear, said sorry, and left the area. Coston stated he contacted the Newton Police to report the accident but was told he needed to come in person to file the report. Coston stated he was unable to come to the station to file the report until September 8, 2019. On Friday, September 13, 2019, I spoke with Gedeon Duarte at the Newton Police Department. Duarte stated he spoke Portuguese and did not speak English. With the assistance of David Sargent from the Language Line (1-800-225-5254) translating, I was to speak with Mr. Duarte in the Traffic Bureau. Duarte stated he was making a delivery at Whole Foods and was waiting for another truck to leave so he could leave the area. Duarte stated a male party (Coston) came up to his driver door and was yelling him. Duarte stated that due to language barrier he was unable to understand what the person was saying to him, but stated the male party was yelling, "Fuck you! Fuck you!" Duarte stated he did not know what was going on and stated he left the area to allow the male party to calm down. Duarte stated he returned a minute later the male party did not want to speak with him. Duarte stated he returned a second time later in the morning and Coston was not there. Duarte stated he received a call from his employer stating Kevin Coston had called for him and he was provided with Coston's phone number. Duarte stated he texted Coston to find out what happened that morning. Duarte showed me a text message exchange from August 23, 2019 at 9:03 A.M. between himself and a party listed as "Kevin Whole". In the text messages, Duarte stated he is the driver of the van and that his supervisor called him. The other party responded and stated "Talk to the police and my lawyer". Duarte stated that he did not understand what happened and that he returned to whole foods. Duarte ended the text exchange with "927535425 my number of policy..." Duarte stated he had no idea he made contact with Coston and stated at the time of the alleged accident he did not hear/see/feel anything otherwise he would have stopped. Duarte's information has been updated in this report to reflect him as the operator/vehicle involved. Duarte also submitted pictures of the rear of his vehicle, a 2008 black Ford E350 (MA: 8NY171), from the day of the accident. Photos were submitted to the IT Bureau. Officer Wade went to the Whole Foods located at 916 Walnut Street, Newton in an attempt to view surveillance footage of the accident. Officer Wade stated the surveillance camera did not capture the incident and the van not viewed at all.