crash_reports: 2100001055

On Thursday, December 16, 2021, while assigned to Traffic unit N525, I responded to the area of Crafts Street and Linwood Avenue, Newton for a report of a single car motor vehicle crash with entrapment. The weather at the time of the crash was cloudy. The road surface at the time of the crash was wet. Crafts Street and Linwood Avenue are both public ways in the City of Newton. On my arrival, I observed a 2007 Toyota Rav 4 (MA: 7565LR), facing North in the Northbound lane of Crafts Street past the Linwood Street intersection. The vehicle had extensive damage to it's passenger side and was resting on it's drivers side. The lone occupant, Mr. Frank Distefano (S00385929), was trapped in the drive seat of the vehicle and was unable to exit due to his legs being pinned under the steering wheel/dash area. First Responders were able to rescue a pug dog from the vehicle and care for it until a family member responded to take custody of it. The dog did not appear to be injured. Newton Fire responded and had to use stabilizing equipment to support the vehicle during their rescue efforts to make sure the vehicle did not roll over onto it's roof. Newton Fire used specialized extrication tools to remove the roof of the vehicle to gain access to Mr. Distefano. Mr. Distefano was removed from the vehicle by Newton Fire and Medics and transported to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston for his injuries. Tody's towing removed the vehicle from the roadway. While Newton Fire was attempting to removed Mr. Distefano from the vehicle, I spoke with a witness to the crash. Mr. John Devalpine (S65213095). Mr. Devalpine stated he was operating his vehicle behind Mr. Distefano on Crafts Street (N). Mr. Devalpine stated he observed Mr. Distefano's vehicle stopped at the light on Crafts Street (N) at Linwood Avenue. Mr. Devalpine stated he then observed Mr. Distefano's vehicle accelerate from it's stopped position and drive across the intersection towards the right side of the roadway. Mr. Devalpine stated the vehicle then crashed into a City of Newton electrical box on the sidewalk. The collision caused the vehicle to turn over and land on it's driver side. I responded to Brigham and Woman's Hospital and spoke with Mr. Distefano in the Emergency Department. His wife, Clara, was present at this time. Mr. Distefano stated he was operating his vehicle and the next thing he knew his airbags deployed and he was trapped inside his vehicle. Mr. Distefano could not recall any other information about the crash. As a result of this crash, Mr. Distefano was cited with Massachusetts Uniform Citation 230024AB for Newton City Ordinance Chapter 19, Section 75 (Fail To Use Care). Due to Mr. Distefano not being able to recall the events that led to his crash, and his recent driver history, I completed and submitted an Immediate Threat with the Registry of Motor Vehicles for Mr. Distefano. This request was emailed to the Registry (DCUImmediateThreat@massmall.state.ma.us). Photos were taken of the crash and submitted to the IT Bureau.