crash_reports

MV1, a 1999 Ford Explorer, MA Reg: 7ZT136, collided with a tree on city property just outside of 134 Mt Vernon St. Operator, Jarrod Stomberg, immediately told me that he looked down at his phone to make a phone call and in that moment, ran off the road and hit the tree. There was airbag deployment. Jarrod signed a refusal with the medics and was driven home by a family member. He was issued in hand MA Citation T1441780 for 90/13B - Texting While Driving. The vehicle was towed by Tody's Towing. Pictures were taken of the scene and placed into ITs box.

The witness stated she was travelling southbound on Lexington St a few vehicles behind MV#1 and observed MV#1 veered towards the northbound travel lane and striking the city tree and retaining wall of 106 Lexington St. The witness then pulled over and assisted the operator of MV#1. The operator of MV#1 stated she was travelling southbound on Lexington St and was "multi tasking" inside her vehicle when she veered off into the northbound travel lane, jumped the curb onto the sidewalk and got wedged in between a city tree and the retaining wall of 106 Lexington St. The operator of MV#1 was not injured but could not exit her vehicle because the doors were wedged in between the tree and retaining wall. MV#1 sustained heavy front end damages, broken front passenger window, front passenger wheel and deployed driver's side airbag. The operator of MV#1 stated she was not injured and was evaluated by Newton Paramedics and signed a patient refusal. The operator of MV#1 was coherent and appeared to be of sound mind and health. I transported the operator of MV#1 to her home and Tody's Towing took possession of her vehicle. Traffic unit 535 took photographs of the damaged city tree.

I responded to the area of 63 Pierrepoint Rd for a report of an MVA single car crash into a tree. I responded to the area at approx. 1752 hrs 09/19/2020. I was advised by NPD Dispatch that the vehicle was unoccupied and that the vehicle has been there all day according to the anonymous reporting party.. When I arrived on location I observed MA Reg. 31542 off the roadway facing westbound directly in front of a tree. This was located directly in front of the residence of 63 Pierrepont Rd. The vehicle was unoccupied with heavy front end damage and front and side airbag deployment. The windows were left 2/3 of the way open and the cars ignition key was left on the driver's seat. The vehicle had collided into a city tree. There was debris from the vehicle at the base of the tree. The tree had visibly been hit but there was no damage to the tree by my observation. I contacted the vehicle owner Edward G. Murray Jr. He confirmed that he had knowledge of the crash. His son Edward G Murray III was the operator at the time of the crash. Murray III had a female passenger Diana Moreno 07/12/2004. I spoke with both Murray Jr. and Murray III via telephone. Murray III stated he was driving following his GPS and suddenly an animal which he believed to be a small dog suddenly ran in front of the car. Murray III swerved to avoid hitting the animal and drove off the road and collided into the tree. He stated the crash was at approx. 0950 on 09/19/2020. I also spoke with Diana Moreno (passenger), via telephone. She could not tell me what preceded the crash as she was looking at her cell phone just prior to the crash. Murray III and Moreno confirmed they were not injured as a result of the crash. Murray III contacted his father and informed him of the crash. Neither party contacted police. Murray Jr contacted AAA to respond advising the vehicle needed to be towed. Murray Jr. stated he was not further contacted by AAA and assumed that the vehicle was towed. Murray III and Moreno left the vehicle parked off the roadway as AAA was not immediately responding. I photographed the crash scene. The photo memory disk has been submitted to NPD IT bureau. The vehicle was towed by Tody's Service Inc.

The operator of MV1 states she was traveling southbound on Lowell Ave., following her GPS. Operator of MV1 states she must have looked at her GPS then struck a parked vehicle, MV2. Thus causing MV1 to roll over onto its roof, deploying both front and side airbags. The operator of MV1 was treated for minor cuts and scrapes then transported to NWH for an evaluation. Todys towed MV1. MV2 was legally parked and unattended, Owner of MV2 to be notified.

On Sunday, August 22, 2021, I was contacted by Sgt. M. Wade of the Newton Police Traffic Bureau at 0032 hours. Sgt. Wade stated a serious motor vehicle crash occurred on Washington Street in Newton and it involved a City of Newton marked police cruiser (N494). Sgt. Wade stated Officer Katelyn Pohlman and the operator of the other vehicle involved were transported to the hospital with potential serious injuries. I was requested by Sgt. Wade to respond to the scene from my residence and investigate the crash further. On arrival at the scene, I observed the two vehicles involved in the crash to be a 2015 Ford Explorer (MA: 586RT7) and Newton Police marked unit N494 (MA MVN: MP494B). These vehicles were observed disabled on the roadway in front of 612 Washington Street, Newton. There was a large debris field comprised of various parts from both vehicles on the roadway and in the parking lot of 612 Washington Street. The road surface at the time of my arrival was wet and there was light rain falling. Sgt. Wade reported that at the time of the crash the road was completely dry and it had not started to rain yet. Washington Street is a public way maintained by the City of Newton. The portion of Washington Street where the crash took place supports two- way travel, Eastbound and Westbound. There are two travel lanes in both directions. Travel direction is divided by a double yellow line in the middle of the roadway. The area is well lit and features numerous light poles illuminating the roadway. The closest intersection to this location is Crafts Street just west of the crash location. MV1 (MA: 586RT7) had substantial front-end damage, especially to its front passenger side and was inoperable. I observed this vehicle at its final rest on the roadway with its front end facing Northbound on Washington Street just over the double yellow line in the middle of the roadway. The front and side impact airbags had deployed inside the vehicle as a result of the collision. I did not observe anything hanging inside the vehicle that would have obstructed the view of the operator prior to the collision. MV1 was removed from the roadway by Tody's Towing. MV2 (MA MVN: MP494B) had substantial front end damage and was inoperable. The impact from the collision caused the vehicle to spin uncontrolled and the final rest, with the front end of the vehicle facing the front entrance to the 7-11 (S). The vehicle's final rest was on the sidewalk in front of 612 Washington Street. The front and side impact airbags had deployed inside the vehicle as a result of the collision. I did not observe anything hanging inside the vehicle that would have obstructed the view of the operator prior to the collision. MV2 was removed from the roadway by Tody's Towing. The Officer involved in the crash is Officer Katelyn Pohlman. Officer Pohlman stated she was operating Newton Police marked unit N494 on Washington Street (E) past Crafts Street. Officer Pohlman stated as she was operating her vehicle past 612 Washington Street (7-11), a vehicle in the westbound lane of Washington Street abruptly crossed the double yellow line in the roadway and entered her travel lane head-on. Officer Pohlman stated she did not have an opportunity to react to the vehicle in front of her and the front passenger side of MV1 crashed into the front end of her vehicle (MV2). Officer Pohlman sustained injuries to her left forehead area and both of her arms. Officer Pohlman was later transported to Brigham and Women's Hospital for evaluation and was released a short time later. It was reported to me by numerous Officers on scene that Officer Pohlman exited her cruiser after the crash and rather than tend to her own injuries, she focused her efforts on rendering aid to the operator of the other vehicle involved. Officer Pohlman found the operator of the other vehicle lying on the floor of the front passenger seat under the dash. Officer Pohlman rendered aid to the operator while waiting for Newton Medics to arrive. Officer Pohlman was also assisted in rendering aid to the other operator by Officer Conary and Officer Larson. Officer Larson reported that while interacting with the operator of MV1, the operator repeated numerous times, "Is she ok? Is she ok?". Officer Larson also stated the operator said to him "I feel bad because I was texting on my phone". Officer Larson stated the operator of MV1 works for the Department of Corrections Special Operations Unit and has Department issues equipment inside the vehicle. The following items were placed into Support Services, locker 9 for safekeeping by Officer Larson: 1 Gray Pelican Gun Case, 1 Black Gun Belt, 1 Taser, 1 Can OC Spray, 15 (50) Round Cases Of Ammunition. The operator of MV1 (MA: 586RT7) was identified as Mr. David Cafarelli (S16965940). Mr. Cafarelli was transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital for a potential head injury before my arrival. I spoke with Mr. Cafarelli at Newton Wellesley Hospital in the Emergency Room with Sgt. Wade. Mr. Cafarelli's mother and father were present when we spoke with him. Mr. Cafarelli stated he was out with friends before the crash and was driving to the 7-11 on Washington Street. Mr. Cafarelli admitted that before the crash, he had his cell phone in his hand while he was operating his vehicle. Mr. Cafarelli stated he does not remember if he was texting or changing the music on his phone at the time of the crash. Mr. Cafarelli stated he looked up and was unable to avoid the vehicle (N494) directly in front of him. Mr. Cafarelli stated he also does not believe he applied his brakes before the collision. When we spoke with Mr. Cafarelli in the Emergency Room, he was still waiting for test results to determine the severity of his injuries. On Monday, August 23, 2021, Sgt. Wade responded to 612 Washington Street, Newton to retrieve surveillance footage from the 7-11 of the crash. 7-11 stated their outside surveillance system was not operating correctly, but they were able to capture some of the incident from a camera inside the store. I observed this footage. MV1 is observed traveling on Washington Street (W) in the westbound travel lane in front of the storefront. MV1's driver side is then observed traveling over the double yellow line in the middle of the roadway and into the eastbound lane of Washington Street. A head on collision ensues and MV1 can be seen rotating counterclockwise in the roadway backwards to its final rest location on Washington Street. MV2 is then observed at its final rest position on the sidewalk facing southbound in front of the 7-11 storefront. After completing my investigation, I have surmised the following. Mr. Cafarelli was operating his 2015 Ford Explorer (MA: 586RT7) in the area of 612 Washington Street, Newton. Mr. Cafarelli was holding his cell phone in his hand while operating his vehicle. Mr. Cafarelli became distracted while he was operating his vehicle due to his attention being focused on his cell phone. Mr. Cafarelli traveled over the double yellow line from the westbound lane of Washington Street and entered the eastbound lane of Washington Street. Newton Police marked unit N494 was traveling on Washington Street (E) in the area of 612 Washington Street at this time. Mr. Cafarelli's vehicle crashed into the front end of Newton Police marked unit N494. Mr. Cafarelli was not wearing a seatbelt and as a result of the impact from the crash, he was ejected from the driver seat and his final rest inside the vehicle was in the flood of the front passenger seat. As a result of my investigation, Mr. Cafarelli was issued Massachusetts Uniform Citation for Chapter 90, Section 13B (Hands-Free Violation), Chapter 89, Section 4a (Marked Lanes Violation), and Chapter 90, Section 13a (Seat Belt Violation). Photos from the crash scene and the surveillance media from 7-11 capturing the crash were submitted to the IT Bureau.

Operator 1 states he was stopped in traffic on Centre St, when he was rear ended by vehicle 2. Operator 2 states she was in stop and go traffic and was traveling northbound while "changing the radio" when she collided into the rear of vehicle 1. There was minor damage to the rear bumper of vehicle 1, and significant damage to the back right wheel well. There was heavy front end damage to vehicle 2, and the front airbag was deployed. Vehicle 2 was towed by Tody's Towing. Both operator 1 and 2 signed patient refusals with Fallon Medics.

Operator of Vehicle 1 states he was travelling Northbound on Ferncroft Rd when the operator became briefly distracted by his phone. Vehicle 1 then struck the curb and a tree on the West side of the road in front of #64 Ferncroft Rd, causing extensive damage to the front of the vehicle and airbag deployment. The operator denied any injuries and declined medical treatment. Vehicle 1 was towed from the scene by Tody's Towing. Newton Fire responded to clean up engine fluids that had leaked on the roadway. The witness who initially reported the crash to 911 stated that she observed the operator of Vehicle 1 pass her location at a higher than reasonable rate of speed and was looking down at his phone. I then issued the operator Mass. Uniform Citation #T1448099 (Written Warning) in hand to the operator's mother as his agent for a violation of C90ss13B Texting While Driving