crash_reports

On 11/12/2019 at 12:26 hours, I responded to the Star Market parking lot located at 2040 Commonwealth Avenue for a motor vehicle pedestrian accident. The parking lot is a public/thru way that motorists use to access the Star Market along with other businesses. The weather at the time was cloudy and rainy and the parking lot was saturated. Prior to my arrival, the pedestrian involved left the scene and did not want to speak to the officer nor wanted medical attention. Ofc. Claflin then cancelled Cataldo Ambulance. The pedestrian, Mary Alexander, left her information with a store employee prior to leaving. I spoke to the operator of MV # 1 (Joshua Randel MD Lic.# R534440603244) who stated that he was travelling through the third row of the Star Market parking lot at an appropriate speed. He was then attempting to make a left turn near the entrance/exit of the store. He says that there was a large white van parked in the end handicapped spot towards the left of him. He says the van was sticking out in the spot limiting his visibility. As he was half way through his left turn and coming around the corner, he was not able to see a pedestrian pushing a shopping carriage. He then struck the carriage that was being pushed by Mary Alexander. He further says that the cart jolted Ms. Alexander and she fell down to the ground. At the time, Alexander was walking through the lot near the store entrance heading back towards the parked cars. She was not in the crosswalk at the time which was approximately ten feet down from her location. After, I attempted to go to Ms. Alexander's residence to follow up. I spoke to her friend who was bringing up Alexander's groceries and she stated that she decided to go to Newton Wellesley Hospital for treatment. I then spoke to Ms. Alexander in the lobby of the hospital. She stated that she was exiting the store through the lot with her shopping carriage. She believes she was approximately eight feet away from the door when all of a sudden she only saw red coming at her. She believes MV # 1 was speeding at the time. I asked her if she was struck by the vehicle or was the shopping carriage only struck. She replied that she did not know and only remembers falling to the ground after. She sustained a large bruise to the inside palm area of her right hand and her left knee was swollen. Digital photos of the scene were taken and pictures of Ms. Alexander's injuries were taken at the hospital. As far as possible video surveillance, I was told that the Loss Prevention Department has to access the video. On 11/13/19 at approximately 14:20 hours, I went in to the Star Market and spoke to the manager, Nidal Rajeh, inquiring about possible video surveillance. He said there is coverage in the parking lot and he was able to show me the video. A copy of the video would have to be done by Loss Prevention which I requested. I observed at the 12:12pm mark in the video, MV # 1 was parked five spots up from the third row of the lot that he was exiting. I also observed a white transport van parked in the end handicapped spot mentioned by the operator but it was parked correctly and not limiting visibility. Next, MV # 1 backs out of the spot and drives forward going at a reasonable speed. The pedestrian (Alexander) has already exited the store with her carriage and is walking at an angle toward the same third row of parked cars. As the pedestrian is walking towards the direction of MV # 1, it appears that the pedestrian should be visible to him. MV # 1 then starts to take the left turn around the corner without slowing or stopping and strikes the carriage head on. Due to the impact, Alexander then loses grasp of the carriage and it goes past her twisting her body around. She then hits and rolls up on the hood of the vehicle on her left side. MV # 1 then suddenly stops and immediately gets out and provides assistance to the pedestrian. Due to the video surveillance, Mr. Randel will be issued/mailed MA Uniform Citation # T2012347 for Ch. 90/14/A Failure to slow for a pedestrian.

On Tuesday, February 18th 2020 at 1908 hours, I responded to the area of 94 Vine St for a single motor vehicle accident. The vehicle (Mass Reg # 5FRT20, 2013 ELANTRA SEDAN COLOR BLUE) was being operated by William Lake. Lake was headed east on Vine St toward West Roxbury when he crashed into a City of Newton Tree. The road conditions were wet with heavy rain. Lake stated the wet conditions caused him to lose control of the vehicle. There was major front end damage to the vehicle and airbag deployment. Lake suffered a laceration to his left eye and complained of neck pain. Lake was transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital by the Medics. The vehicle was towed by Tody's. I took pictures of the accident and submitted them to the IT Bureau to be uploaded.

On Tuesday, October 13, 2020 while assigned to Traffic unit N525, I responded to 18 Station Avenue, Newton for a 2 car motor vehicle crash. The weather at the time of the crash was rain. The road surface on Station Avenue was wet. Station Avenue is a public way maintained by the City of Newton. I spoke with the operator of MV1, Mr. Derrick Sobers (S31986103). Mr. Sobers stated he was operating a 2019 Freight MT45 box truck (MA CON: T93974) on Station Avenue (N). The vehicle is owned by Crown Linen Service Inc. Mr. Sobers stated he was pulling off of the roadway to the right in front of 18 Station Avenue when the rear passenger side area of his vehicle crashed into the front driver side of a parked 2020 Toyota Rav 4 (MA: 6RS841). This vehicle was parked unoccupied in a metered parking spot on the roadway. I observed minor damage to the rear passenger side of MV1 and minor damage to the front driver side/front driver wheel area of MV2. No injuries were reported.

Operator 1 states he was traveling in MV1 east on River Street on the way to the airport. Operator 1 states it was dark and raining and did not see MV2 parked on the side of the street, until he struck it. MV1 pushed MV2 approx. 15-20 feet where they both came to rest next to each other. No reported injuries, Medics evaluated and obtained a refusal die to airbag deployment. Both vehicles were towed by Tody's. NFD put speedy dry on a small spill.

On Thursday, January 20, 2022, while assigned to Traffic unit N525, I responded to the area of 1446 Beacon Street, Newton for a report of an MVA involving a City of Newton contracted school bus. The weather at the time of the crash was light rain. The road surface was wet. Beacon Street is a public way maintained by the City of Newton. I spoke with the operator of MV1, Mr. Ralph Ghera (S43446773). Mr. Ghera stated he is a driver for JSC Transportation (contracted by the City of Newton) and was picking up a student to transport them to Newton South High School. Mr. Ghera stated his vehicle, a 2019 Ford Transit Van (MA SPN: 109403 ), was parked in front of Beacon Street (E) with it's red flashing lights activated while Ms. Ella Glennon was entering the vehicle for transport. At this time, MV2 (2020 Lincoln Aviator (MA: 3AB494) travelled past MV1 Eastbound on Beacon Street and disregarded the flashing lights that were activated on the van. MV2's front passenger side door mirror made contact with MV1's front driver side door mirror. I observed very minor damage to the mirrors on both vehicles. No injuries were reported. I spoke with Ella's father, Ian Glennon, on scene and made him aware of his daughters involvement in the crash. Mr. Glennon stated his daughter was not injured. Ella was then transported to Newton South by Mr. Ghera. The operator of MV2, Mr. Yipei Zhang (S13848781), was issued Massachusetts Uniform Citation 265793AB in hand for Chapter 90, Section 14 (Fail to stop for a school bus). Photos were taken and submitted to the IT Bureau.

On Thursday, February 3, 2022, while assigned to Traffic unit N525, I responded to the area of 281 Beacon Street, Newton for a report of an MVA/Pedestrian crash. The weather at the time of the crash was light rain. The road surface was dry. Beacon Street is a public way maintained by the City of Newton. I spoke with the pedestrian involved in the crash, Ms. Sharon Sabin. Ms. Sabin stated she entered the roadway to cross near 281 Beacon Street (S to N). Ms. Sabin stated she believes she was in the marked crosswalk at this time. Ms. Sabin stated she observed a vehicle to her left stop to let her cross. Ms Sabin stated a the second vehicle (MV1) did not stop and made contact with the tips of her boots. Ms. Sabin was evaluated by Fallon Medics and signed a patient refusal. Ms. Sabin report no injuries. I observed no damage to the boots Ms. Sabin was wearing at the time of the crash. I spoke with the operator of MV1, Ms. Hallie Geller. Ms. Geller stated she was operating her 2014 Toyota Prius (MA: 2AS375) in the area of 281 Beacon Street when a police vehicle with it's emergency lights and siren approached her from behind. Ms. Geller stated as she attempted to pull over to the right side of the road so the cruiser could pass, Ms. Sabin stepped into the crosswalk. Based on my observations, it is unclear if MV1 made contact with Ms. Sabin's toes. Due to the external circumstances of Ms. Geller attempting to pull over so an emergency vehicle could pass, I will not be issuing her a citation for the incident.