crash_reports

On Wednesday, June 23, 2021 while assigned to Traffic unit N525, I responded to St. James Street at the Washington Street rotary for a motor vehicle crash involving a Fallon Ambulance and a City of Newton owned vehicle. The weather at the time of the crash was clear and sunny. The road surface was dry. St. James Street and Washington Street are both public ways maintained by the City of Newton. I spoke with the operator of MV1, Mr. Michael Cannistraro. Mr. Cannistraro works for the City of Newton Parks and Recreation Division. Mr. Cannistraro stated he parked his City of Newton owned 2019 Ford F-150 (MA MVN: M3116A) to the right side of St. James Street (W) at the Washington Street rotary. Mr. Cannistraro stated he exited his vehicle and was trimming branches hanging over the sidewalk of this area when he observed a Fallon Ambulance Company owned van drive Westbound on St. James Street. This vehicle's front passenger side door mirror made contact with the front driver side door mirror of his unoccupied vehicle and left the scene with out stopping and exchanging information. Newton Dispatch contacted Fallon to attempt to located the driver with a negative result. The passenger side door mirror for the Fallon vehicle was observed resting on the roadway next to MV1. Pictures were taken of the damage to MV1 and submitted to the IT Bureau. I spoke with Chris O'Malley from Fallon who stated he will look into what vehicles were in the area at the time of the crash and get back to me. On June 24, 2021, I followed up with Fallon and spoke with the on duty supervisor for Fallon, Mr. Richard Souza. Mr. Souza stated he looked into the incident on his end and no one has reported being involved in a crash or reported any damage to their vehicle. If any information becomes available Fallon will update me.

On June 24, 2021 at approximately 08:45 I responded to the Newton Police front desk for a past hit and run. I spoke with the operator of MV1, who said that on June 23, 2021 at approximately 0800 she was travelling westbound on California St at the set of lights by Bridge St. when her motor vehicle was struck from behind. She said that both drivers made hand gestures to each other to pull off the road to exchange information but the operator of MV2 continued driving. The operator of MV1 wrote down the license plate of MV2 which came back to the owner. I as unable to make contact with the operator of MV1 but left a voicemail on his known phone number. The damage to MV1 appears to be very minor and it may be possible that the operator of MV2 was unaware of the crash. Traffic Bureau update (Officer Gaudet): On Wednesday, June 24, 2021 I spoke with the operator of MV2, Mr. Christopher Geneus (SA5950503). Mr. Geneus stated he was the operator of the 2015 white Honda Accord (MA: 3YHV61) alleged to have been involved in the crash. Mr. Geneus stated he does not believe his vehicle made contact with MV1. Mr. Geneus stated he did observe MV1 pull over to the side of the road as they were driving, but he did not beleive it was to speak with him. Mr. Geneus stated if he knew he was involved in a crash he would have pulled over. Mr. Geneus stated there is no damage to the front bumper area of his vehicle. Mr. Geneus was advised and his updated contact information was added to this report.

On Thursday 6/24/21 I responded to a two car motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Lowell Ave and Washington st. Upon my arrival I spoke with the operator of MV 1 (RI REG CONCPT) who stated he was headed westbound on Washington and trying to turn southbound on Lowell Ave. He said his view was obstructed by an eversource detail that was working just before the intersection on Washington st. When he was making the turn he was struck by MV 2 (MA REG 2LBM55) which had been traveling eastbound on Washington st. MV 1 had damage on the right side back passenger door. I spoke to the operator of MV 2 who stated she was traveling eastbound on Washington St when MV 1 cut in front of her even though she had the right of way. MV 2 had damage to the front end and airbag deployment. The driver of MV 1 had no injuries and MV 1 was driven away from the scene. The operator of MV 2 was transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital and her vehicle was towed by Tody's.

On Thursday 6/24/2021 at 5:40 pm I responded to MV accident on Derby St at Sheridan St. Upon my arrival I spoke to the Operator of MV 1 (MA REG 48VP86) and she stated that she was traveling westbound on Derby St and tried to take a left on to Sheridan St when MV 2 (MA REG 3WVD91) tried to pass her on the left side by going on the wrong side of the road and collided with her car. MV1 had damage on the driver side front wheel well. I spoke with the operator of MV 2 and he stated that he tried to pass MV 1 on the left because he thought she was trying to pull into a driveway. MV 2 had damage on the passanger side. Both vehicles were able to be driven away and neither party was injured.

On Monday, June 28, 2021, while assigned to Traffic unit N525, I was entering my marked cruiser to leave the parking lot at the rear of 1321 Washington Street, Newton. The rear parking lot of the police station features a public right of access, but is restricted for authorized vehicle. There are signs posted at both entrances to the parking lot stating, "RESTRICTED AREA Newton Police Department Authorized Vehicles Only Beyond This Point. As I entered my cruiser, I observed a red 2020 Jeep Wrangler (CT: AX89516) parked directly across from my cruiser facing Eastbound. This vehicle was not parked in a marked parking spot and was the last vehicle in the parking lot from the Cherry Street entrance on the North side of the lot. I observed that the front bumper of this vehicle made contact with the rear bumper area of a parked 2018 Tesla Model 3 (EV3617 ). I exited my vehicle and walked over to the vehicles to investigate if a crash had occurred. I observed a black male party sitting in the front passenger seat of the Jeep. The driver seat was vacant. The Jeep had its driver door and passenger door windows rolled down. The vehicle was not running and there were no keys in the ignition. As I approached the passenger side door, the male passenger appeared to be asleep and I could detect a moderate odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from the passenger seat area. I woke up the passenger and inquired where the driver of the vehicle was. The passenger identified himself by his Connecticut ID as Masengo Kabongo (#178372788). Mr. Kabongo stated his cousin Marcel was the operator of the vehicle and they had pulled into their current parking spot so Marcel could run an errand. Mr. Kabongo stated he did not know where his cousin was, and he could not locate his phone to contact his cousin. I asked Mr. Kabongo if he was aware he was parked in the Newton Police Station parking lot and that the vehicle he was sitting in crashed into an employee's vehicle parked in front of them. Mr. Kabongo stated he was not aware. Mr. Kabongo appeared to be very confused with the situation and continued to state he did not know why they were there and where his cousin was. The registered owner of the Tesla arrived and assessed the damage to his vehicle. I observed minor damage to the rear bumper area to MV2. There was also minor damage to the front bumper of MV1. The owner of MV2 was able to review footage of the crash from his vehicles exterior surveillance system. While viewing this video with him, I observed MV1 enter the Newton Police Department parking lot from Cherry Street and pull right behind MV2. MV1 appeared to be occupied by two black males at this time. One in the passenger seat and one in the driver seat. MV1's front bumper area is then observed crashing into the rear bumper area of MV2. The Newton Police Department IT Bureau was able to observe the crash from a surveillance camera affixed to the Newton Police Department maintenance garage (facing Cherry Street). The video captures MV1 entering the parking lot and crashing into the rear of MV2. A black male with light colored shorts and a dark T-shirt is observed exiting the driver side door and walking away from the area up Cherry Street (S) to Washington Street. I explained to Mr. Kabongo that the crash was captured on our surveillance system and that his cousin appeared to be the operator. Mr. Kabongo stated his cousin was currently in Newton District Court being arranged for a previous incident (Report #21027283). I looked up recent bookings for NPD and I observed a party matching the name Mr. Kabongo provided. On Friday, June 25, 2021. Mr. Marcel Mengue-Ngoumou was arrested and cited by the Newton Police Department for OUI (Subsequent Offense), Negligent Operation, Marked Lanes, Open Container, and Unlicensed Operation. I contacted the Newton Police Department Court Prosecutor, Officer Hagopian, to see of Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou was still present in Newton District Court. Officer Hagopian stated he contacted the court and Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou was waiting to be arraigned. Myself and Officer Hagopian responded to Newton District Court to try and speak with Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou. Upon entering Session 1 in NDC, the lone individual sitting in the gallery was a party matching the description of the party from the surveillance footage. I spoke with Assistant District Attorney Nathan Stetson who was present in the court room. I apprised him of the current incident that Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou was involved in and told him I was going to speak with him. Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou at this time was sitting on the second to last bench on the left side of Session 1 as you walk into the courtroom. The exit to the courtroom was behind him. I approached Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou from the front of the courtroom and explained to him that I had just spoken to his cousin in the parking lot of the Newton Police Department. I explained to him the vehicle his cousin was sitting in had crashed into a parked vehicle belonging to a Newton Police Department employee. I explained to Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou that his cousin had identified him as the operator of the vehicle. I then asked Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou who was operating the vehicle when they were traveling to court today. Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou stated he was the operator. I asked Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou if he knew he had parked in the Newton Police Department parking lot. Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou stated he did not. I asked Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou if he knew he crashed into a parked vehicle in the parking lot. Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou stated he did not. I asked Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou if he knew he was not supposed to be operating a vehicle because of his incident from the other night and his license being suspended. Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou stated he did. I apprised ADA Stetson to my conversation with Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou. Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou was issued Massachusetts Uniform Citation 054528AB in hand for Chapter 90, Section 23(K) (Operating a MV after suspension, subsequent offense), and Chapter 90, Section 24 (Leaving the Scene of Property Damage). Mr. Mengue-Ngoumou knowingly crashed into MV2, parked his vehicle, took the keys from the ignition, and left the area with out making an effort to contact the owner of MV2. The 2020 Jeep Wrangler from the crash was removed from the Newton Police Department parking lot by Tody's towing. A towed MV form was completed and submitted. Washington Street and Cherry Street are both public ways maintained by the City of Newton.