crash_reports

On 3/1/19 while working N493, myself and N492 Officer Selig were sent to the area of 1354 Washington St for a motor vehicle accident with reported injuries. On arrival, I spoke to Matthew Digregorio DOB7/2/74 ( hereby referred to as operator #1) who was standing on the sidewalk next to MA reg 134TR9 (vehicle #1 ). Vehicle #1 had significant damage to the front and right quarter panels. It was straddled between the travel lanes and did not have the keys in the ignition. It was immediately apparent that operator #1 suffered an injury to his head, as there was a moderate amount of blood and small pieces of glass stuck in his forehead area. I observed operator #1 to be unsteady on his feet, have bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. I could detect a moderate odor of alchoholic beverage coming from operator #1 as I was approaching him, which was apparent from about an arms length away (it should be noted that medics were already en route to the scene at this time). Prior to the medics arrival, I asked operator #1 for a brief synopsis of what transpired. Operator #1 stated that he had just left Paddy's Pub and was driving westbound on Hunter St (which is approximately 1/8 mile from our location) when he collided head on with vehicle #2. Vehicle #2 was not immediately visible upon police arrival, however was pointed out as being located at the intersection of Hunter and Putnam St. I asked operator #1 where he was heading, as Hunter St is a back road not directly in the vicinity of Paddy's. Operator #1 could not answer the question and also remained silent when I asked him how much alcohol he had consumed this evening. At this time the medics arrived on scene. I asked operator #1 for the car keys to reliquish to the tow truck operator, which is standard operating practice. Operator #1 reached into his pocket and then provided me with the keys. Due to concern over operator #1's obvious head trauma, he was then transported to NWH to be evaluated while the investigation continued on scene. Two other parties approached myself and Officer Selig. One was the operator of vehicle #2, MA reg 1RD999. Operator #2 is identified as Luke Ferdinands DOB 5/11/80. The other party who approached is identified as Douglas Dasilva-Pimenta DOB 6/2/86 (Dasilva-Pimenta will now be referred to as operator #3). Operator #2 states that he was taking a right onto Hunter St from Putnam St, when he observed vehicle #1 on the wrong side of the road approaching him head on. Operator #2 states vehicle #1 then collided head on with him, took a right onto Putnam St, and continued onto the Washington St overpass near 1354 Washington St. Operator #3 states he was inside of #5 Hunter St when he heard a loud crash coming from outside. He looked out the window and saw vehicle #1 traveling at a high rate of speed on Hunter St towards Putnam St. Operator #3 observed damage to the right side of his parked vehicle (now referred to as vehicle #3) MA reg 7CAK80. He immediately got in his vehicle and proceeded to follow vehicle #1, which then crashed into vehicle #2 head on. Operator #1 did not stop until it was obvious that operator #3 was following close behind. This ultimately landed vehicle #1 at it's final location near 1354 Washington St. Vehicle #1 and vehicle #2 were not driveable and were towed to Tody's. It should be noted that there was a passenger in vehicle #2 at the time of the collision. Airbags were deployed and medics checked out both operator and passenger. Both declined transport. The passenger is identified as Elizabeth Ferdinands DOB 5/22/53.Ferdinands' version of events coincide with that of operator #2. Upon speaking with Officer Selig it was learned that operator #1 dropped his cell phone several times as he was holding it on scene. Both Officer Selig and operators #2 and #3 observed this. Operators #2 and #3 both expressed concern over the obvious odor of alcohol eminating from operator #1, and the fact that he was unsteady on his feet. I responded to NWH to follow up with operator #1 however he did not wish to speak further. He did express concern over the well being of all parties involved. Operator #1 was issued in hand the following citations: T1268426 - 90/24 OUI Alcohol, 90/24 Leaving the Scene (property damage, vehicle #2), and 90/24 Leaving the Scene (property damage, vehicle #3). T1268425 - 89/4a Marked Lanes violation. T1269216 - 90/24 Negligent Operation of a M/V (mailed after consultation with superiors) All streets mentioned are public ways in the City of Newton. 1354 Washington St will be the address used on this report and subsequent citations due to multiple locations being involved. Citations and paperwork have been placed in the prosecutor's mailbox. An immediate threat form has been filled out and faxed to Mass DOT. *Attention Police Prosecutor for blood work subpoena, if applicable*

On 06/08/2019 at 0150 hours I received a call from Sgt Lee in regard to a head on motor vehicle crash with entrapment that had occurred on Center St at the four way intersection with Cabot St and Sergeant St. Upon my arrival at the crash scene I was advised by Sgt Lee that all occupants of the involved vehicles had been transported to hospitals for treatment. I made the following observations of the crash scene , Center St is a two lane public way in the city of Newton that runs north to south. I observed a city of Newton contracted Cataldo ambulance stopped in the south bound lane of Center St at Cabot St. The ambulance was MA AMN registration AMB 370 a 2017 Ford Econo Line that had heavy damage to the front end and driver's side fender. I observed that the front tire of the ambulance was snapped off and was pushed back towards the driver's side door. I further observed that both of the front and side air bags of the ambulance were deployed. The front of the ambulance's final point of rest was 8'8" from a fixed overhead light pole on the northeast corner of Center St at Cabot St. The ambulance's front passenger side tire was 4'3" front the curb on the Cabot St side. The ambulance's rear passenger side tire was 2'3" from the Cabot St side curb. The ambulance's rear driver side tire was 5'1" from the double yellow line on Center St. The ambulance's front driver side tire was 6'3"from the Center St double yellow line. The width of Center St from the double yellow line to the Center St curb is 15'' and 16'" to the Sergeant St side. I observed a 2011 Mazda 3 with MA PAN registration 6KJ783 facing south bound in the north bound lane. The Mazda had heavy damage to it's front end, and I observed that it's front tires had snapped off. The Mazda's roof had been removed by Newton Fire to extract the occupant. The front of the Mazda's final point of rest was 40'3" from a fixed overhead light pole on the northeast corner of Center St and Sergeant St. The Mazda's front passenger tire was 4'6" from the double yellow line on Center St. The Mazda's rear passenger side tire was 7'6" from the Center St double yellow line. The Mazda's rear passenger side tire was 1'2" from the Center St double yellow line. The Mazda's front driver's side tire was on the curb on the Sergeant St side of Center St. There were no skid marks from the Mazda which indicates that no braking occurred. At the time of the crash, the Cataldo Ambulance was being operated by Paramedic Corey Bohan and Paramedic Tom White was in the front passenger seat. Bohan stated that he was operating his vehicle southbound on Center St towards Cabot St after clearing a medical call. There were no patients in the ambulance at the time of the crash, and Bohan estimated he was travelling 25 MPH . Bohan stated within less than two seconds he observed a vehicle traveling towards him northbound on Center St in the southbound lane and estimated it's speed to be approximately 80 to 100 MPH.Bohan stated he was able to slow to a near stop and had moved his vehicle towards the right shoulder on Center St before the Mazda struck his vehicle head on. Bohan stated that after forcing his way out of the driver's seat of his vehicle, he rendered medical aid to the operator and only occupant of the Mazda, Jessica Pondish. Bohan stated that Pondish speech was slurred and he detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath and person. Bohan was later transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital for evaluation. The passenger in the ambulance, Tom White stated to officers that he was working on the ambulance's laptop computer and did not see anything leading up to the impact from the crash. White stated that he was able to force himself free of the passenger side of the ambulance, and rendered medical aid to Pondish. White stated that Pondish was " in and out of it " and did not appear coherent.White stated that he asked Pondish if she had consumed any alcoholic beverage and she nodded in the affirmative. White Stated that he was unsure if Pondish understood his questions. White stated that he did not detect any odor of an alcohol beverage emanating from Pondish's breath or person. White was transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital for evaluation. Pondish was freed from her vehicle after approximately 22 minutes by Newton Fire Department units by utilizing special extraction tools. Pondish was transported by Newton Medic Unit Two to the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston for treatment. From 06/08/2019 to 06/10/2019 Pondish had two surgeries and was unable to speak due to her condition. On 06/10/2019 myself and Officer Gaudet were able to speak with Pondish in her hospital ICU room at the Brigham and Women's Hospital. Pondish's parents Lorena and John Pondish were present while we spoke with her. Officer Gaudet asked Pondish about the events that led up to the crash. Pondish stated that on 06/07/2019 she was at a friend's residence in Norton, MA. Pondish stated that while at her friend's residence she consumed a bottle and a half of Riesling wine. After Pondish's admission myself and Officer Gaudet stopped our conversation with her. I read Pondish her rights directly from a Miranda card and explained them in full before allowing her to continue speaking with myself and Officer Gaudet about the events of that led to the crash. Pondish stated that she understood her rights. Officer Gaudet asked Pondish if she had consumed any alcoholic beverages prior to driving home to her residence in Newton. Pondish stated that she drank a bottle and a half of Riesling wine by herself between the hours of 1700 and 0000 hours on 06/08/2019. Officer Gaudet asked Pondish how large the bottles of wine was that she drank, and she stated that they were average size. Officer Gaudet asked Pondish how she perceived her state of being was after consuming a bottle and a half of wine. Pondish stated that she felt " buzzed " . Pondish stated that she left her friend's residence in Norton at approximately 0100 hours on 06/08/2019 to return to her residence in Newton. Pondish stated that she does recall the events leading up to the crash, except that she tried to make a phone call but the person did not pick up. Pondish stated that her seat belt was on and that she was not texting while operating her vehicle. Pondish stated that her injuries consisted of a broken left elbow and internal injures to her intestines. On 06/09/2019 I spoke to Cataldo Paramedic Robert Canning and Stephen Heirholcer who were the medic unit that transported Pondish to the Brigham and Women's Hospital. Canning stated that he rendered medical aid to Pondish for approximately 20 minutes while Fire units worked to free her. Canning stated that Pondish's legs were pinned under her vehicle's dashboard. Canning stated that during the approximately 20 minutes that he was in close proximity to Pondish he could detect a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage that was emanating from her breath and person. Canning stated that once Pondish was freed he continued to treat and monitor her during the transport to the Brigham and Women's Hospital. Canning stated that when he asked Pondish if she had consumed any alcoholic beverage she stated that she had. Paramedic Heirholcer stated that he did not detect any odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from Pondish's breath or person. Based upon the physical evidence at the crash scene, and statements made to officers by all of the above mentioned persons, Pondish is being charged with violation of MGLs 90/24j OUI liquor, 90/24e negligent operation of a motor vehicle, 89/4a failure to stay within marks lanes, and 90/17 speeding. On 06/12/2019 at the conclusion of the crash investigation I issued MA Criminal Application T 1269996 in hand to Pondish at her hospital room and explained to her what action she needed to take with court. On 06/11/2019 a letter of preservation was sent to Brigham and Women's Hospital requesting that a sample of Pondish's blood, urine and medical records be saved. On 06/12/2019 Brigham and Women's Hospital confirmed that a sample of Pondish's blood had been preserved. As of 06/12/2019 a search warrant for Pondish's blood sample was pending. Photos of the involved vehicles and of the crash scene were taken and downloaded by the NPD's IT Bureau. Both involved vehicles were towed from the crash scene and towed motor vehicle forms were filled out. An Iphone and backpack belonging to Pondish were taken from her vehicle for safekeeping and returned to her on 06/11/2019. A copy of this report was faxed to the MA RMV Driver Control Unit to request an immediate threat suspension.