crash_reports: 2100000738

On Tuesday, September 21, 2021, I received a call from Sgt. Mike Wade of the Newton Police Traffic Bureau. Sgt. Wade stated a serious MVA/Bicycle crash had just occurred at the intersection of Cherry Street and Derby Street in Newton and the bicyclist was a 10-year-old boy with a possible head injury. Sgt. Wade stated the Traffic Bureau was requested to respond by the Shift Commander and asked if I could respond to investigate the crash. On arrival, Officers reported to me that the cyclist involved, Benjamin Lavoie, was transported to Children's Hospital in Boston with a possible head injury. It was reported to them that Benjamin was traveling Southbound on Cherry Street towards Derby Street on his bicycle. Benjamin entered the intersection of Derby Street and crashed into the front passenger side area of a passing motorist that had a green light. Officers on the scene also reported that the motor vehicle and the bicycle involved had been moved from their original rest location. Cherry Street is a public roadway maintained by the City of Newton. It supports two way travel (N and S) from Washington Street (S) to Waltham Street (N). The travel lanes are divided by an unprotected double yellow line median. The posted speed limit for this street is 25 miles per hour. Derby Street is a public roadway maintained by the City of Newton. It supports two way travel (E and W) from Waltham Street (E) to Lexington Street (W). The travel lanes are divided by an unprotected double yellow line median. The posted speed limit for this street is 25 miles per hour. The weather at the time of the crash was clear and sunny. The road surface in the immediate area of the crash was dry. I spoke with the operator of MV1, Ms. Erica Pusateri (S61409866). Ms. Pusateri stated he was operating her 2021 Kia Seltos (MA: 8HC743) Westbound on Derby Street towards Cherry Street. Ms. Pusateri stated that she had a green light at the intersection and proceeded to cross Cherry Street to continue onto Derby Street. Ms. Pusateri stated halfway through the intersection she heard a noise and saw a bicyclist hit the front passenger side door area of her vehicle. The collision caused the glass window from the front driver-side door to shatter. Ms. Pusateri's vehicle controlled her vehicle to a stop and she observed a young boy lying on the roadway in the intersection behind her. Ms. Pusateri exited her vehicle, ran over to the injured bicyclist, and rendered aid to him by stabilizing his neck. Ms. Pusateri remained on scene and cooperated fully with Officers. I asked Ms. Pusateri if she was distracted at all while operating her vehicle prior to the collison. Ms. Pusateri stated she was not. I asked Ms. Pusateri if she could recall where in the intersection the bicyclist crashed into her vehicle. Ms. Pusateri stated the bicyclist crashed into her vehicle in the Northwest side of Derby Street just outside of the marked crosswalk in the intersection. Ms. Pusateri stated she knows it was in the street in the intersection because she observed a woman with a stroller on the sidewalk on the corner of Cherry Street at Derby Street on the Franklin Elementary School side and she had already travelled through the intersection passed the East side of Cherry Street. Due to the unknown injury status of the bicyclist, Ms. Pusateri's vehicle was towed to the Newton Police Station and secured in the garage area as evidence. Ms. Pusateri reported a small laceration on her right hand with no other injuries. I observed damage to the front passenger side fender/door area. There was no airbag deployment as a result of the crash. I observed glass through out the front passenger side compartment area of the vehicle from the window breaking. I contacted Benjamin' s parents, Cheryl and John, to check on the status of their son. Cheryl stated Benjamin did not suffer any life-threatening injuries and appears to have bumps, bruises, and a cut on his head. I asked if I could speak with Benjamin for his account of what happened at the crash. Benjamin stated he was riding his bicycle on Cherry Street (Southbound) on the sidewalk on the East side of Cherry Street. Benjamin stated he left the sidewalk and entered the intersection to cross Derby Street and continue on Cherry Street. Benjamin acknowledged that at this time Cherry Street had a red light and Derby Street had a green light. Benjamin stated he then crashed into a passing car in the roadway. Benjamin was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The helmet had significant damage to it as a result of the collision. I told Benjamin his bicycle was being held at the Newton Police Department for safekeeping and we will arrange to get it back to him. Benjamin is a student at the Franklin Elementary School. I make contact with a witness to the crash, Mr. Benjamin Crosby. Mr. Crosby stated he did not witness the actual crash, just the aftermath. I was able to reviewthe 9-1-1 call Mr. Crosby made regarding the crash in Newton Disptach. Mr. Crosby stated a boy on a bicycle was in a crash with a motor vehicle. Mr. Crosby is heard saying "he went through the light" to the Dispatcher taking the call. After completing my investigation, I have summized the following. The bicyclist (Benjamin Lavoie) traveled down Cherry Street (S) and went through a red light to cross the intersection at Derby Street (W). As a result of traveling through the red light and entering the intersection, he crashed into the front passenger side door area of a passing motorist that had a green light (Erica Pusateri). No citation will be issued as a result of this crash.