crash_reports: 2100000327

On Monday May 10th, 2021 at approximately 0825 hours, dispatch sent units to the intersection of Eldredge Street and Vernon Street for a report of a road rage incident involving a crossing guard and a motor vehicle. When units arrived it was determined that the crossing guard who was performing her duties at the time of the incident, was struck by a motor vehicle that left the scene without stopping. I responded to the scene of the accident to conduct an investigation. At the time of the incident the weather was cloudy and the road surface was dry. Eldredge Street and Vernon Street are both public ways owned and maintained by the City of Newton. Upon arrival I spoke with the injured crossing guard inside the ambulance identified as, Margaret Monbouquette. Margaret was being treated by Fallon Medic 3 for leg pain. Margaret stated she was in the middle of the intersection holding her stop sign up as children and adults were actively crossing to get to the Underwood School. Margaret stated she had all three streets stopped when her attention was brought to the vehicle at the stop sign on Eldredge Street on the one way side. Margaret stated it kept inching forward into the intersection attempting to turn left. Margaret stated she still had people crossing at that intersection so she stepped in front of the vehicle and held up the stop sign directly in front of the vehicle and the female driver. Margaret stated she looked at the female driver and stated "No, stop" and that is when the driver started to yell back at her inside her vehicle but she could not make out what she was saying as her window was rolled up. Margaret stated the driver then tried to drive around her and struck her with the front passenger side bumper of the vehicle. She stated she was struck in her hip area which caused her to fall onto the street. Margaret stated the vehicle never stopped and sped up Vernon Street. Margaret described the driver as a slight female with dark hair driving a dark colored SUV. Margaret was able to provide a license plate of MA REG: 1XCS97. A query of the license plate through dispatch was able to provide an address of 74 Charlesbank Rd, Newton. Officers checked this address but got no response at the door and the vehicle was not located. A witness to the incident identified as Alicia Matos left her phone number and I was able to make contact with her over the phone. She stated she was in her motor vehicle stopped at the stop sign on Eldredge St, directly across from the vehicle involved. Alicia stated she was stopped because the crossing guard was in the intersection holding up her stop sign and was actively crossing children and adults. Alicia states she noticed the vehicle across from her kept creeping out into the intersection trying to take the left turn up Vernon Street. She states the crossing guard walked over to that vehicle and told her to stop and saw the female driver start yelling and pointing her hands at her inside the vehicle. Alicia states the crossing guard then backed up and was looking down at the drivers license plate when the driver drove at the crossing guard and struck her with her front passenger side and knocked the crossing guard to the ground. Alicia states the vehicle clearly made contact and did not stop and left the scene turning onto Vernon Street at a high rate of speed. Alicia states several people in the area came to the crossing guards aid and police and medics arrived shortly. Alicia described the driver of the motor vehicle to be a female with dark hair. The principal of the Underwood School, Suzie Talukdar was present after the accident and stated the secretary of the school received a phone call shortly after the incident from a grandparent of the school. The grandparent was identified as Dawn Coleman. Dawn stated her daughter was driving the vehicle involved and was having anxiety over the incident and didn't know what to do. Dawn identified the driver as Chelsey Sullivan (S83874401). I attempted to make contact with Chelsey at her residence of 74 Charlesbank Rd with negative results. The secretary was able to provide phone numbers for Dawn and Chelsey and I responded to the police station to attempt to make contact. While at the police station, I was notified that Chelsey Sullivan was downstairs in the lobby. I met with Chelsey and she stated the following: She was driving MA REG 1XCS97 a black Toyota Rav4 and was stopped at the stop sign on Eldredge Street the one way side. She noticed the crossing guard in the intersection holding up the stop sign but stated there was no one crossing at the time. Chelsey stated she started to inch forward and wanted to turn left onto Vernon Street as she was in a rush. Chelsey stated the crossing guard came right up to her vehicle and started shouting and holding up the stop sign in her hand telling her to stop. Chelsey stated she was yelling back at her stating that the cars behind her were going so she wanted to go too. Chelsey stated when the crossing guard started to walk away from her, she got very anxious and decided to take the left onto Vernon Street. She stated she saw the crossing guard stumble and fall to the ground but at no time did she think she made contact with the crossing guard. Chelsey stated she drove home and called her mother to tell her about the incident. Chelsey stated she wrote an apology letter to the crossing guard and has really bad anxiety and wasn't sure what to do. I advised Chelsey she needs to follow the crossing guards instructions when they are performing their duties no matter if she thinks the road is clear for her to enter/pass. Chelsey stated she understood and was also advised she will be getting a citation and summons in the mail. Chelsey took me to her vehicle where I took several photographs and submitted them to the IT Bureau. No damage was reported or observed. Massachusetts Uniform Citation 997066AA and criminal application was issued and mailed to Chelsey for Chapter 90 section 24 Operating to Endanger and Chapter 90 section 14 Failure to slow near pedestrian.