crash_reports

On December 16th, 2021 at approximately 13:26 hours while working N491 I responded to a report of a mv crash in front of Whole Foods, #647 Washington St. On my arrival I located both involved vehicles. Vehicle #1 was a 2018 Black Nissan Rogue, ma plate 492NJ8, operated by a Thomas Gemelli. He stated he was exiting Whole Foods attempting to turn left E/B onto Washington St when he crashed into vehicle #2. Mr Gemelli further stated there was a large truck turning into Whole Foods at the same time he was exiting that blocked his view of vehicle #2. Vehicle #2 was a blue 2011 Ford Fiesta, ma reg. 949RCG, operated by a Eileen Kurkoski. She stated she was exiting from the gas station at #650 Washington St attempting to go W/B on Washington St when she was struck by vehicle #1. She also reported that her view of vehicle #1 was obstructed by the same truck entering Whole Foods.

Thursday, December 16, 2021, while assigned to Traffic unit N525, I responded to the area of Beacon Street and Walnut Street in Newton for a report of a crash involving a City of Newton owned vehicle. Beacon Street and Walnut Street are both public ways maintained by the City of Newton. The operator of MV1, Ms. Risheen Brown (S34655505), stated she was operating her 2017 Subaru Forester (MA: 2VG176) on Walnut Street (N) past the Beacon Street intersection. Ms. Brown stated she slowed down in traffic to allow a vehicle in front of her make a turn. Ms. Brown stated MV 2 then crashed into the rear of her vehicle. I observed significant damage to the rear bumper/trunk area of MV1. Due to the damage to her vehicle, Ms. Brown was also advised to replace the two car seats in her vehicle. Ms. Brown reported no injuries on scene. The operator of MV2, Mark Whooten (S39870664), stated he was operating a City of Newton owned Ford F-350 (MA MVN: M99235) on Walnut Street (N) past the Beacon Street intersection. Mr. Whooten stated the vehicle in front of him abruptly stopped in their travel lane to allow a vehicle to turn. The front of MV2 crashed into the rear of MV1. I observed minor damage to the front area of MV2. Mr. Whooten reported no injuries on scene. Mr. Whooten is an employee of the City of Newton DPW. Photos were taken and submitted to the IT Bureau.

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.