crash_reports

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

On Thursday, June 23, 2022, while assigned to unit N492, I responded to the area of Homer Street and Lowell Avenue in Newton for a report of a Hit and Run Crash. The weather at the time of the crash was clear and sunny. The road surface was dry. Detective Sgt. Claflin was working a paid detail for Feeney Brothers at the intersection of Lowell Avenue and Otis Street. While monitoring the traffic in the area, Detective Sgt. Claflin heard what he believed to be a vehicle crash in his vicinity. Detective Sgt. Claflin looked across the intersection and observed a 2020 Honda Civic (MA: 7MR818) leaving the scene down Lowell Avenue (S) towards Commonwealth Avenue. This vehicle had damage to it's passenger side door area. Detective Sgt. Claflin also observed fresh damage to the rear driver side bumper area of a 2021 Dodge Ram (MA: 5CFR30) that was parked in front of 296 Lowell Avenue (S). Detective Sgt. Claflin then entered his personal vehicle and attempted to catch up to the Honda Civic that left the scene to check on their well-being. Detective Sgt. Claflin stated as the vehicle approached the intersection of Lowell Avenue (S) and Commonwealth Avenue, it proceeded through the intersection on to Homer Street with out stopping at the red light activated at this intersection. Detective Sgt. Claflin was finally able to stop the vehicle on Homer Street just after Commonwealth Avenue. I arrived on scene and spoke with the operator, Ms. Ludmila Gelman (S30392030). I asked Ms. Gelman about the events that took place prior to Detective Sgt. Claflin stopping her. Ms. Gelman stated she did not know what happened. I observed moderate damage to the front passenger side door area of her vehicle. The front passenger door mirror was damaged and folded in. The glass window from the front passenger door was shattered and missing. There was glass from the middle covering the entire front passenger seat/floor area inside the vehicle. I showed Ms. Gelman the glass inside her vehicle and the damage to her door and asked her if she knew what caused it. Ms. Gelman stated she did not know and that something must have hit her. I explained to Ms. Gelman the events that has just transpired as conveyed to me by Detective Sgt. Claflin. Ms. Gelman seemed to be confused and did not understand what happened. Ms. Gelman called her son Steven and asked me to speak with him. I explained to Steven the events leading up to me speaking with him. I explained to Steven I did not feel comfortable allowing Ms. Gelman to drive away from the scene. At Steven's request, I moved Ms. Gelman's car away from the intersection and parked it in front of 1103 Commonwealth Avenue for him to pick it up. Ms. Gelman reported no injuries and was transported to her residence by myself in unit N492. Ms. Gelman was given Massachusetts Uniform Citation 487210AB in hand for Chapter 90, Section 24 (Leaving The Scene Of Property Damage), Chapter 89, Section 9 (Fail To Yield, Red Light), and Newton City Ordinance Chapter 19, Section 75 (Fail To Use Care). Ms. Gelman was also advised I would be filing an Immediate Threat with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. A Request for Immediate Threat License Suspension/Revocation was completed and submitted tot he Registry of Motor Vehicles with supporting documentation via e-mail, DCUImmediateThreat@massmail.state.ma.us. I returned to the area of the crash and observed damage to the rear driver side bumper area of the involved Dodge Ram. The vehicle was unoccupied at the time of the crash. The registered owner, Mr. Zachary Maclaughlin, was advised. A copy of the issued Criminal Application was submitted to the Court Prosecutor with supporting documentation. Otis Street, Lowell Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, and Homer Street are all public ways maintained by the City of Newton.

On Friday, June 24, 2022, while assigned to unit N492, I responded to the area of Lowell Avenue and Otis Street for a report of a MVA involving a Feeney construction vehicle. The weather at the time of the crash was clear and sunny. The road surface was dry. Lowell Avenue and Otis Street are both public ways maintained by the City of Newton. The operator of MV1, Mr. Richard Holmes (S34147311), stated he was operating a 2021 CAT 420 Backhoe (MA CON: W35648) is the area of 297 Lowell Avenue (S). Mr. Holmes stated he was transporting a portable restroom in the front bucket to another location on their job site. Mr. Holmes stated a vehicle was traveling towards him on Lowell Avenue (N) and he moved over to the right side of the road to create more room on the roadway for both vehicles. Mr. Holmes stated at this time the front passenger side of the backhoe's bucket area crashed into the rear of an unoccupied vehicle parked in front of 297 Lowell Avenue (S). I observed minor damage to the bucket area of the backhoe. No injuries were reported by Mr. Holmes. The owner of MV2, Mr. Michael Fedas (S87986062), was advised that his 2019 Kia Forte (MA: 3ZDV69) was involved in the crash. I observed moderate damage to the rear driver side area of MV2. Mr. Fedas was working in the area in his official capacity as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service.

On Monday, July 11, 2022, while assigned to unit N492, I responded to the area of Commonwealth Avenue and Temple Street, Newton for a report of a crash with minor injuries. The weather at the time of the crash was clear and sunny. The road surface was dry. Commonwealth Avenue and Temple Street are both public ways maintained by the City of Newton. I spoke with the operator of MV1, Ms. Rui Zhang (SA4940828). Ms. Zhang stated she was operating her 2016 Subaru Outback (1WRP35) on Commonwealth Avenue (W) towards Temple Street. Ms. Zhang stated she activated her right turn directional and was slowing down to take a right turn onto Temple Street. Ms. Zhang stated she began to take her right turn, a vehicle appeared on her right side and crashed into the front passenger side of her vehicle. Ms. Zhang her and her son Kenneth reported no injuries as a result of the crash. I observed damage to the front passenger side bumper/tire/fender area of MV1. Tody's responded and removed the vehicle from the roadway. I spoke with the operator of MV2, Mr. Thomas Conneely (S30459555) as he was being treated by Newton Medics. Mr. Conneely stated he was operating his 2019 Honda CRV (MA: 58252) on Commonwealth Avenue (W) towards Temple Street. Mr. Conneely stated he was traveling behind MV1 for some time and the vehicle was slowing down and speeding up down the length of Commonwealth Avenue. Mr. Conneely stated as they approached the Temple Street intersection, MV1 had stopped in the middle of the road and he believed it was taking a left turn on to Temple Street. Mr. Conneely stated he went to around the right side of the vehicle when it suddenly took a right turn into his vehicle as it was passing. Mr. Conneely said his vehicle then went airborne twice and he ended up in the yard of 1633 Commonwealth Avenue. Mr. Conneely and his passenger, Ms. Susan Conneely were transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital by Newton Medics for evaluation. Tody's towing reponded and removed MV2 from the property of 1633 Commonwealth Avenue. Ms. Nancy Ghabi stated she was operating her vehicle on Commonwealth Avenue (W) behind MV1 and MV2 at the time of the crash. Ms. Ghabi stated she observed MV2 to be traveling at a high rate of speed and observed it travel to the right of MV1 and try to go around it. Ms. Ghabi stated she two vehicles then crashed and MV2 ended up in the lawn of 1633 Commonwealth Avenue. Ms. Ghabi described the actions of MV2 to be "erratic". Mr. John Carey stated he witness the crashed as he was standing on the sidewalk in the area of 1633 Commonwealth Avenue. Mr. Carey stated MV1 was slowed down in the intersection and MV2 tried to go around MV1's passenger side. The vehicles then crashed and Mr. Carey believes MV2 did not attempt to brake post collision and MV2 ended up on the lawn of 1633 Commonwealth Avenue. Mr. Conneely will be cited with Massachusetts Uniform Citation 510670AB for Chapter 89, Section 4A (Unsafe Lane Change) and Newton City Ordinance Chapter 19, Section 75 (Fail To Use Care). Pictures of the property damage to 1633 Commonwealth Avenue were taken and submitted to the IT Bureau.