crash_reports: 2000000580

On Tuesday, October 6, 2020, I received a call at approximately 2158 hours from Sgt. Devine of the Newton Police Traffic Bureau. Sgt. Devine stated there was a motor vehicle crash with serious injury that had just occurred at the intersection of Crafts Street and Waltham Street in Newton. Sgt. Devine stated that one of the parties involved had suffered life threatening injuries and was transported to Brigham and Women's Hospital. I responded to the scene and conducted an investigation of the crash with the assistance of Sgt. Devine and Captain Boudreau. Upon arrival it was reported to me by officers on scene that a party operating a motorized scooter on Crafts Street (E) had been struck by a 2007 Chrysler Town and Country (MA: 5EE316). The Chrysler was attempting to make a left turn from Crafts Street (W) onto Waltham Street (S). The operator of the motorized scooter, identified as Nadhir Tchikou (DOB: 11/23/1993), had suffered serious injuries to his head and left leg area and was transported to Brigham and Women's Hospital. It was reported to me that Officers Conary, Boyle, and Donovan were the first to arrive at the crash and provided life-saving care to Mr. Tchikou prior to being transported to Brigham and Women's Hospital. Officer Donovan responded to Brigham and Women's to keep us updated on Mr. Tchikou's status. The update provided to me while on scene was that Mr. Tchikou was in critical condition and in surgery. Due to the seriousness of the crash and potential fatal injury, Sgt. Devine contacted the Massachusetts State Police to assist in the investigation. Sgt. Mahoney and Trooper Paul responded as part of the Massachusetts State Police Crash Reconstruction team and conducted a supplemental investigation of the crash (MSP report 2020-CAR-000285). The location where the crash took place is Crafts Street and Waltham Street. Crafts Street and Waltham Street are public ways maintained by the City of Newton. Crafts Street and Waltham Street are municipal roadways that support two way travel for motor vehicles and bicycles with an unprotected median in the middle of both roadways to separate the direction of travel. This intersection was recently re-paved within the last month and has newly painted street markings including crosswalks, dedicated bicycle lanes, and stops lines at the intersections. Crafts Street at this intersection features two travels lanes. I observed the road surface to be dry at the time of my arrival on scene. The north lane in the westbound direction of Crafts Street permits travel straight ahead and also permits motorists/bicyclist to take a right turn onto Harding Street. The south lane in the westbound direction of Crafts Street is a dedicated left turn only lane that coincides with a left turn only arrow on the traffic signal in the middle of the intersection. The opposite side of Crafts Street permits traffic traveling in the eastbound lane to travel straight or take a left turn onto Harding Street from is a single lane travel lane. The area is well lit featuring street lights bright enough to illuminate the intersection for motorist traveling through the area. The weather at the time of the crash appeared to be clear. In the intersection where the crash took place, I observed a large debris field comprised of parts from a 2020 Tao Tao motorized scooter (49CC) and a 2007 Chrysler Town and Country (MA: 5EE316). I observed the motorized scooter (VIN: L9NTCBAG1L1010287) resting on its side facing North in the northbound lane of Crafts Street in the intersection. The motorized scooter has significant damage to its front, right, and left side and was inoperable. The area in the immediate vicinity of the motorized scooter was saturated with gasoline. The rear lights and dash of the motorized scooter were illuminated while I was observing the crash scene. The headlights were not intact due to the impact from the crash and I was unable to determine if they were functioning. The motorized scooter was removed from the roadway by Tody's Towing. The intersection where the crash took place had numerous first responders present immediately after the crash rendering aid to Mr. Tchikou prior to his transport to the hospital. It was reported by officers on scene that some of the items and debris in the intersection had been moved from their initial place of rest after the crash took place. A black MMG helmet was observed resting on the ground outside the debris field from the crash before the westbound left turn only lane of Crafts Street. It is unknown if it was moved from its initial place of rest by a first responder. I observed the strap on the helmet that would be used to secure it to the operator to be in good operable condition. I did not observe it to be defected and the securing feature of the strap was in working order. I did not observe any blood, hair, or other apparent physical evidence inside the helmet that would be consistent with the head injury reported to the operator of the motorized scooter. I observed what appeared to be fresh markings on the front mouth/nose area of the helmet. I observed a white Iphone with a red phone case lying on the roadway a short distance away from the impact area. The Iphone was on and displaying travel directions from the Iphone application Waze. The Iphone and the helmet were seized pending the status of the operator of MV2. A property/evidence form was completed and the Iphone and helmet were secured in property locker number 9. I spoke with the operator of MV1, William Moran (S34946215). Moran stated he was operating his white 2007 Chrysler Town and Country (MA: 5EE316) on Crafts Street (N) as he approached Waltham Street. Moran stated he had a green light and activated his left blinker as he approached the intersection with the intention of taking a left turn onto Waltham Street. Moran stated as he proceeded to take his left turn he saw "orange" and was unable to avoid hitting the object in front of him. Moran stated the object came out of nowhere and he swerved to the left in an attempt to avoid the crash. Moran stated after the collision he accelerated away from the impact area and came to a controlled stop on Waltham Street (S) just past the intersection. Moran stated he exited his vehicle and looked back at the intersection he had just travelled through. Moran stated as he began walking towards the intersection he observed a party laying on the roadway in the intersection. Moran stated the party was not wearing a helmet at this time. Moran also added that he believes the moped involved in the crash did not have its headlights on prior to impact. Moran stayed on scene and cooperated fully with officers during the investigation. A query of Moran's license and registration status through Newton Police Dispatched showed they are both active. I asked Moran if he was using a cell phone, GPS, or any other type of hand held device prior to the crash. Moran stated he was not. I asked Moran if he was distracted by anything either inside the vehicle or something on the roadway prior to the crash. Moran stated he was not. I asked Moran if he was currently impaired in any way that would impede his ability to operate a vehicle safely. Moran stated he was not. I asked Moran if he takes any medications or has a medical condition that would impede his ability to operate a vehicle safely. Moran stated he does not. Moran reported no injuries as a result of the crash. I observed Moran's vehicle at its controlled rest location. The vehicle was parked on Waltham Street (S) in the southbound lane just past the intersection of Crafts Street. The 2007 Chrysler Town and Country (MA: 5EE316) had substantial damage to the front passenger side bumper, hood, fender, windshield, and passenger door area. There was physical evidence of what appeared to be hair, blood, and tissue presumed to be from the operator of MV2 present in the cracked windshield, and on the passenger side door/mirror area. I observed a blue Commonwealth of Massachusetts "R" inspection sticker with a date of 05/28/2020 affixed to the windshield. Moran stated the rejection sticker was a result of an emissions failure. The inspection sticker expires in 2021. I asked Moran if there were any other mechanical issues with the vehicle. Moran stated there were no issues to his knowledge. I observed no objects present inside the vehicle during my investigation that would have potentially impeded the operators ability to see clearly through the windshield. I observed glass debris from the windshield inside the passenger and driver area of the vehicle. There was no air bag deployment inside the vehicle. Subsequent to my investigation, the vehicle was seized pending the status of the operator of MV2. The vehicle was towed from the scene by Tody's towing and secured in the Newton Police Department garage. The vehicle was escorted to the garage by Officer Donovan. A towed motor vehicle form was completed by Officer Donovan and the key for the vehicle was secured in property locker number 9. A property/evidence form was completed. Subsequent to my investigation Moran's black Alcatel cell phone was seized pending the status of the operator of MV2. A property/evidence form was completed and the phone was secured in property locker number 9. Officer Conary stated to me that prior to my arrival on scene she interviewed a witness to the crash and provided me with the following information. Joshua Hamel was operating his vehicle (W) in the right lane of Crafts Street towards Waltham Street. Hamel stated that MV1 (MA: 5EE136) was in the left turn lane on Crafts Street (W) towards Waltham. Hamel stated the scooter was headed eastbound on Crafts Street from Waltham. Hamel stated MV1 began to take a left turn and there was a head on collision with the scooter. Hamel stated he believed the traffic light at the time of the crash was green. On Friday, October 9, 2020, I spoke with Hamel via telephone. Hamel corroberated the statement he gave to Officer Conary. I asked Hamel if he believed the headlights on the motorized scooter were activated at the time of the crash. Hamel stated he believes the headlights on the motorized scooter were on as it approached the intersection but was not postive. On Wednesday, October 7, 2020, I spoke with Mr. Tchikou in his ICU room at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Tchikou's wife, Yami Carrajza, was present in the room while I spoke with him. Tchikou stated he had a significant head injury, injuries to his nasal cavity, his back, and a significant injury to his left leg. I asked Tchikou about his recollection of the crash. Tchikou stated he had just left his friend's home on Hazelhurt Avenue in Newton and was traveling home to Brighton to bring his wife dinner. Tchikou stated he was traveling Eastbound on Crafts Street as he approached the intersection of Crafts Street and Waltham Street. Tchikou stated he had a green light and as he entered the intersection a white vehicle took a turn from the opposite side of the road in front of him. Tchikou stated he does not remember anything after that. I asked Tchikou if he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Tchikou stated he was. I explained to Tchikou that I recovered a white Iphone with a red case at the scene of the crash. Tchikou identified the Iphone as his. I explained that the phone was displaying travel directions when I found it and I asked Tchikou if he was distracted by his phone prior to the crash. Tchikou stated he was not distracted by the phone and the phone was in a holder on the motorized scooter. I asked Tchikou if he remembers if his headlights were activated on his motorized scooter at the time of the crash. Tchikou stated they were on. I asked Tchikou if he could produce paperwork for the motorized scooter to prove he was the owner. Tchikou stated he had recently purchased the scooter and the paperwork for it was at his residence. Tchkou's wife e-mailed me a picture of the Certificate of Origin for the motorized scooter. I asked Tchikou if he could produce a license or permit that would allow him to operate the motorized scooter. Tchikou stated he did not have a Massachusetts license or permit, but had an Algerian license at this residence. I was able to observe a picture of the license on his wife's cell phone. The written text on the license was in Arabic. Tchikou did not have a translation of the license in English and did not possess an International Driver's Permit. As a result of my investigation, Mr. William Moran while operating MV1 (MA: 5EE316) entered the travel lane of MV2 (Tchikou) as he was making a left turn onto Waltham Street from Crafts Street. MV2 had the right of way and MV1 failed to yield to MV2's right of way causing the collision to take place. Moran was advised of my investigation and issued Massachusetts Uniform Citation T0115914 via mail by request for Chapter 90, Section 8 (Fail To Yield To The Right Of Way At An Intersection.) Mr. Nadhir Tchikou operated his motor scooter at the time of the crash without a valid license/permit. Tchikou is also in violation of operation of a motor scooter after dark (prohibited). The crash occurred at 2147 hours. Tchikou will be issued Massachusetts Uniform Citation T0115915 in hand at Brigham and Women's Hospital for Chapter 90, Section 1E (Unlicensed Operation Of A Motor Scooter) and Chapter 90, Section 1E (Operation Of A Motor Scooter After Sunset - Hours Restriction.)