crash_reports

On Sunday, May 5th, 2019 at approximately 1315 hours while working the City of Newton detail for the Walk for Hunger I was standing at my assigned post at the intersection of Centre Street and Willow Street. At the time, the road surface was dry and the weather was cloudy. Traffic was particulary heavy as there were several streets in the area still blocked off for the Walk for Hunger and there were participants still walking the route in the area. My attention was drawn to the intersection of Centre Street and Bowen Street as there was a motor vehicle travelling southbound on Centre Street with their left turn signal on attempting to take a left turn on to Gibbs Street. Gibbs Street was temporarily blocked to non-residential motorists as there were several pedestrians in the road crossing over Gibbs Street. As the motor vehicle attempted to turn, there were several pedestrians in the crosswalk crossing over Gibbs Street. The vehicle had stopped halfway into the northbound lane on Centre Street blocking on coming traffic. The operator appeared to realize Gibbs Street was blocked and attemped to turn the vehicle back into the southbound lane to continue southbound on Centre Street. As the vehicle turned back into the southbound traffic lane, the vehicles rear end collided with Officer Richard Clements, who was operating NPD motorcycle unit 533. Officer Clements was traveling southbound on Centre Street and was passing the vehicles in the southbound traffic lane which were currently all at a standstill. Officer Clements had his emergency lights activated as he was on his way to remove traffic cones from the street to open up all the traffic lanes along the event route. Officer Clements was working the City of Newton detail for the Walk for Hunger assigned to the motorcycle to assist with traffic. Officer Clements front wheel, left side of the motorcycle and left leg collided with the rear end of the motor vehicle. The impact of the crash caused him to fall off the left side of the motorcycle and land on the street face first. At this time I immediately ran from my post to Officer Clements location and radioed dispatch that a motorcycle officer was down and that I needed assistance. As I approached Officer Clements he was face down, unconcious and breathing. I was able to roll Officer Clements into the recovery position and at this time Officer Clements regained conciousness and was able to speak and stated " What happened? What was that lady doing she turned right into me". I advised Officer Clements that he had just been involved in an accident and to stay still and that help was on the way. The operator of the motor vehicle identified as Helen Leibner (S52717988) stopped her vehicle immediatley after the crash and got out of her vehicle to offer her assistance. I advised Helen and several other witnesses and bystanders who were now crowding around Officer Clements and I to back away from the scene and to not move any of the vehicles involved. Officer Selig arrived on scene and was able to help crowd control until further help arrived. Helen and all witnesses were advised to stand by for police to take their statements. While tending to Officer Clements he was disoriented and made several attempts to move his body to which I had to physically hold him still to prevent possible further injuries. While speaking with Officer Clements I noticed blood coming from the inside of his mouth. Officer Clements was in a noticeable amount of pain. He complained of head, back and left leg pain. Officer Clements was wearing a yellow ANSI certified Newton Police reflective jacket and a Newton Police issued motorcycle helmet. Once the paramedics and fire personnel arrived I was able to speak to the operator of the motor vehicle and several other witnesses. Helen stated she was traveling southbound on Centre Street operating her blue 2014 Audi A4 (MA REG 213BC9). Helen states she was attempting to take a left turn onto Gibbs Street and activated her left turn signal. Helen states she had stopped halfway into the northbound lane as several pedestrians were crossing Gibbs Street in the crosswalk at the time. Helen states after the pedestrians cleared she saw the traffic cones blocking the street and realized the street was closed. Helen states she turned her vehicle back into the southbound traffic lane and did not see Officer Clements or the motorcycle until impact. Helen was not injured and her motor vehicle sustained moderate rear end damage. Her motor vehicle was able to drive away from the scene. Witness Adron Gordon (S90357161) stated he was participating in the Walk for Hunger and had just crossed over Gibbs Street when the crash occured. He stated he witnessed the Officer on the motorcycle with the emergency lights on traveling southbound on Centre Street behind the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle stopped in traffic attempting to turn left onto Gibbs Street. He states then the vehicle made a slight turn back into the southbound traffic lane and the motorcycle collided with the rear end of the motor vehicle. He states the Officer then fell off the motorcycle landing in the middle of Centre Street. Witness Elizabeth McCarthy (S00242346) and Katherine Regan (S43486601) stated they both were in the same vehicle together stopped in traffic in the northbound lane of Centre Street just before the set of lights at Centre Street and Bowen Street. Both witnesses stated they do not remember if the driver of the motor vehicle had the turn signal on but they did see her attempt to turn onto Gibbs Street. They stated they also saw the motorcycle with emergency lights activated travel southbound on Centre Street approaching behind the vehicle. Witnesses state the motor vehicle then suddenly turned back into the southbound lane and the motorcycle collided with the passenger side tailight of the motor vehicle. Both witnesses state the motorcycle attemped to turn away from the vehicle to avoid the crash but was unable to do so. Witness Nina Wang (S39460985) stated she was parked on the southbound lane of Centre Street just prior to the crash scene. Nina states she was in her City of Newton DPW marked vehicle with the hazards on as she was working to assist with traffic safety for the Walk for Hunger. Nina states she witnessed the motorcycle travel southbound on Centre Street and pass the vehicles stopped in the traffic lane. Nina states the motorcycle passed the traffic using the left side and had the emergency lights activated. Nina states the motorcycle was just passing through the green light at Centre Street and Bowen Street when the motor vehicle that was stopped at the lights attempting to take a left turn onto Gibbs Street. Nina states the vehicle then abruptly jerked her car to the right and collided with the motorcycles left side. Nina states she heard a loud crash and witnessed the Officer fall off the motorcycle and land face first onto the street. The motorcycle's final resting place was on its left side approximately two feet away from where Officer Clements was located. The motorcycle sustained moderate damage to its left side, including the front wheel well and undercarriage. The motorcycle left scuff marks on the street which were measured and photographed. Several photographs of the scene and damage to both vehicles were taken and submitted to the IT Bureau. The motorcycle was towed by Todys. Centre Street and Bowen Street are both public ways maintained by the City of Newton. The injured motorcyclist, Officer Clements, was transported to Saint Elizabeth Hospital with fire fighters on board. I was able to follow up with Officer Clements on the phone the next day who was admitted over night at the hospital. Officer Clements stated he has no recollection of the accident and can only remember driving down Centre Street to begin to pick up cones to open up all lanes of traffic. Officer Clements stated he suffered a brain bleed, head, back, left foot and right thumb injuries. A Massachusetts Uniform Citation was issued and mailed to Helen for Chapter 89 Section 7A, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, police motorcycle.

On Monday, July 15, 2019, while assigned to Traffic unit N525, I responded to the area of Beacon Street and Paulson Road, Newton, for a report of a hit and run motor vehicle accident involving a bicyclist. The weather at the time of the accident was clear and sunny. The road surface was dry. Beacon Street and Paulson Road are both public ways maintained by the City of Newton. I spoke with the injured bicyclist in front of 165 Paulson Road, Alexander Mendonez. Mendonez stated he was traveling Westbound on Beacon Street on his bicycle near Paulson Road. Mendonez stated he observed a late model gray sedan "inch to a stop" on Beacon Street (W) at Paulson Road. Mendonez stated he did not remember if the vehicle had it's right directional on at the time. Mendonez stated as he was traveling through the intersection with the vehicle on his left, the vehicle took a right turn onto Paulson in front of him. Mendonez stated he attempted to brake and veer to the right of the vehicle, but was unable to avoid the collision. Mendonez stated his left side made contact with the rear passenger door/rear fender area of the vehicle. Mendonez fell to the roadway and the vehicle left the area Northbound on Paulson Road. Mendonez was unable to see who was operating the vehicle. Newton Medics responded and treated Mendonez for injuries to his left knee/arm area. Mendonez signed a patient refusal with Newton Medics. I observed minor damage to the left handlebar area of Mendonez's bicycle (black Trek). Mendonez was wearing a white helmet at the time of the accident with a blue shirt and white and black shorts. Pictures were taken of the area and bicycle and submitted to the IT Bureau. Mendonez was able to provide a partial Massachusetts registration of "7BS32". I attempted run this plate with multiple combinations. I searched the area for a vehicle matching the description given by Mendonez with a negative result. On July 16, 2019, I spoke with a witness to the incident Mark O'Hearne. O'Hearne stated he was traveling Westbound on Beacon Street a few car lengths behind where the accident occurred. O'Hearne stated he observed a bicyclist on the right side of the road abruptly stop and fall to the roadway. O'Hearne stated he observed a vehicle in the path of the bicycle. O'Hearne stated the vehicle did not stop after the bicyclist fell and took a right onto Paulson Road from Beacon Street. O'Hearne stated he followed the vehicle involved in the accident to Commonwealth Avenue, and while doing so took a picture of the vehicle's license plate. O'Hearne stated he did not observe who was driving the vehicle. The Massachusetts registration provided to me by O'Hearne is 7BS322. This vehicle comes back to a 2010 Volkswagon Jetta registered to Peter Giorgi (S20952090) out of Paxton, Ma. I spoke with Peter via telephone. Peter acknowledged he is the registered owner of the vehicle, but stated his daughter was using the vehicle and was in the Newton area. I spoke with Lindsey Giorgi (S35711247) via telephone. Giorgi stated she was operating MA: 7BS322 in Newton yesterday, but does not recall being in an accident. Giorgi stated she is not familiar with the area and does not know the area where the accident occurred. Giorgi stated there is no damage to her vehicle and stated she does not believe she hit anyone. Giorgi emailed me 4 photos of her vehicle where I described the damage would be. I observed a small area of minor damage to the rear passenger side door area of this vehicle. After speaking with all parties involved, I am requesting a hearing in Newton District Court for Chapter 90, Section 24 (Leaving the Scene, Personal Injury). Giorgi was advised and mailed Massachusetts Uniform Citation T1269847. All photos obtained from O'Hearne and Giorgi were submitted to the IT Bureau.

On 04/29/2021 at 15:22 hours I was dispatched to 53 Brentwood Ave for a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a bicyclist. Upon my arrival, I made the following observations of the crash scene. Brentwood Ave is a two way non divided public way in the City of Newton that runs east to west from Greenlawn Ave to Walnut St. Brentwood Ave is a thickly settled residential area with a 25 MPH speed limit. The roadway conditions at the time of the crash were wet due to rain. I observed MA reg 111ZS1 a 2020 Honda Civic parked on the side of Brentwood Ave just passed the intersection of Judith Rd facing westbound. I observed that the Honda had damage to it's front driver's side bumper. When I inspected the Honda I observed that the driver's side headlight casing was cracked and a piece of it was missing. I further observed an approximately six inch in diameter spider web like crack in the lower driver's side windshield. The windshield crack was inward , indicating that an external object had caused the damage. There was another single crack onn the driver's side windshield that extended from the hood to the roof. The operator of the Honda , Lisabeth Ioannilli stated that on 04/29/2021 at 15:20 hours she was driving westbound on Brentwood Ave near the intersection of Judith Rd. Ioannilli stated that she estimated that the speed of her vehicle was approximately 25 to 30 MPH. Ioannilli stated that she did not see a bicyclist in her path of travel until the point of impact when her vehicle was aproximately 3/4 of the way passed the intersection of Judith Rd. Ioannilli stated that her vehicle's front driver's side bumper made contact with the bicyclist. Ioannilli stated that the bicyclist was tossed off of her bike and onto the hood and windshield of her vehicle before rolling onto the ground. Ioannilli stated that she pulled her vehicle to the side of the road and went to check on the bicyclist. Judith Rd is a public way in the City of Newton that runs east and then turns south from Walnut St to Brentwood Ave. There are no traffic control devices at the intersection of Judith Rd and Brentwood Ave. Ioannilli stated that she was not injured in the crash and her vehicle did not require a tow. At the crash scene, the bicyclist , Lucia Campbell, a student a FA Day Middle School ( DOB 11/08/2006 ) was being treated in an ambulance and was transported to Boston Children's Hospital for treatment. Campbell was conscious and was able to answer questions from EMS members. Campbell stated that she was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and that she rode her bike south on Judith Rd and was turning eastbound onto Brentwood Ave when the crash occurred. I spoke with Campbell's parents Adam Campbell and Iris Delasota who stated that their daughter was under going x rays and other tests to determine if she has internal injuries. I took photo's of the bike, Honda and crash scene and the disk was downloaded by the NPD's IT Bureau. Based upon my investigation of this crash I concluded that Ioannilli was at fault for it. I issued via US mail Ioannilli MA Uniform Citation T1446633 and cited her for a violation of MGL 90/14 failure to use care while approaching a bicyclist. Campbell's bike was turned over to her parents at the crash screen.

On Thursday, September 23, 2021, while assigned to Traffic unit N525, I responded to the area of 358 Beacon Street, Newton for a report of a motor vehicle/bicycle crash with injury. The weather at the time of the crash was clear and sunny. The road surface was dry. Beacon Street is a public way maintained by the City of Newton. I spoke with the operator of the vehicle involved, Mr. Thomas Mogan (S29907615). Mr. Mogan stated he was operating his 2015 Jeep Wrangler (MA: 6EBH20) on Beacon Street (W) towards his residence of 358 Beacon Street. Mr. Mogan stated he observed a break in the traffic traveling on Beacon Street (E) towards Hammond Street in front of his driveway. Mr. Mogan took a left turn from the Westbound lane of Beacon Street to enter his driveway. While making his turn, his vehicle crashed into a bicyclist traveling on Beacon Street (E) in the marked bicycle lane in front of 358 Beacon Street. Mr. Mogan stated he did not see the bicyclist until the front passenger side fender/door area of his vehicle made contact with her. I observed minor damage to this area on his vehicle. Mr. Mogan reported no injuries. The injured bicyclist was identified as Ms. Louisa Palmer (S67185637). Ms. Palmer was treated on scene by Fallon Medics for injuries to her left wrist and ankle and transported to Brigham and Women's Hospital for further evaluation. Ms. Palmer was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and I observed her blue Bianchi Pista bicycle resting on the sidewalk in front of 358 Beacon Street. The bicycle had minor damage in to it's front wheel area and fresh scrapes near the handlebars. I transported the bicycle to Ms. Palmer's residence. I responded to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and spoke with Ms. Palmer in the Emergency Department. Ms. Palmer stated she was riding her bicycle on Beacon Street (E) towards Boston College. Ms. Palmer stated she was riding in the marked bicycle lane with the motor vehicle traffic to her left. Ms. Palmer stated she observed a break in the traffic on Beacon Street ahead of her, and then a Jeep entered her travel lane after it took a left turn from the Westbound travel lane on Beacon Street right in front of her. Ms. Palmer stated her left side crashed into the front passenger side wheel/hood area. Ms. Palmer stated she then fell to the roadway. Ms. Palmer stated she has injuries to her left wrist/arm area, her left ankle, and her hips. I spoke with a witness to the crash, Ms. Kelli McCusker. Ms. McCusker stated she was traveling on Beacon Street (E) towards Boston College at the time of the crash. Ms. McCusker stated there was heavy traffic in the area as she observed a bicyclist travel by the passenger side of her car. Ms. McCusker stated there was a break in the traffic ahead of her in the Eastbound lane and she observed a Jeep in the Westbound lane of Beacon Street make a left turn in front of the car in front of her. Ms. McCusker stated the Jeep and the bicyclist crashed into each other at this time. After speaking with all parties involved, Mr. Mogan did not yield to the right of way while Ms. Palmer was traveling on Beacon Street (E) on her bicycle. Mr. Mogan will be issued Massachusetts Uniform Citation for Chapter 90, Section 14B (Fail To Yield To Bicyclist on Turn). Photos were taken of the scene and submitted to the IT Bureau.

Motorcyclist, Benjamin Stern, stated that he was traveling EASTBOUND when a motor vehicle struck him on his right side. He was stopped at the stop sign (4-way) and waited for his turn to go. When he felt it was safe to proceed, he entered the intersection. MV1, Katerina Ciccarone, stated she was traveling NORTHBOUND on Chestnut St, stopped at the stop sign and proceeded into the intersection when she felt it was safe to do so. She did not see the motorcyclist and the motorcyclist did not see her. MV1 had a junvenile passenger in the backseat behind the driver's seat belted in his child safety seat. No injuries were reported and STERN signed a refusal with the medics as he suffered from a nose bleed. STERN was wearing his helmet at the time of the crash.The motorcycle was towed by Tody's as there was heavy right side damage. MV1 was driveable and there was light front end damage.