Fatal Accidents

March 28, 2011

Fatal Accident Closes Sumner Tunnel in Boston

Late on Sunday night, a single car crashed inside the Sumner Tunnel in Boston, resulting in the death of an unidentified man. Around 10 p.m., State Police responded to the scene of the fatal accident, which shut down the Storrow Drive ramp. Authorities confirmed that the car, identified as a white pick-up truck, was heading towards Storrow Drive when it crashed into the side of the tunnel.

Although the cause of the accident has not yet been determined, witnesses reported that the driver was speeding. Roman Wunderlich, a witness who was first passed by the truck and the only other vehicle in the tunnel at the time of the accident, said, “He didn’t stop, he didn’t brake, nothing…no screeching tires, there was nothing, he just went right into the wall…I’d say he was probably going about 100 miles an hour.” A second witness arrived at the scene of the accident and pulled up next to Wunderlich who warned him of the deadly accident up ahead. The second witness asked him if it was a white pick-up truck as he had just seen him speed through the toll booth just minutes before. The driver has not been identified yet and authorities have not found a driver’s license at the scene of the accident.

The Storrow Drive ramp inside the Sumner Tunnel has been the site of other fatal accidents in the past. In November 2009, a woman died and two were seriously injured in an accident and another crash in February 2008 killed a man and injured three more.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident, please do not hesitate to contact one of our experienced Boston car fatality lawyers for a free consultation.

Sources:

Crash in Boston’s Sumner Tunnel kills 1 person, Boston Herald, March 28, 2011
One dead after crash in Sumner Tunnel, Boston Globe, March 27, 2011

1 dies in crash in Sumner Tunnel, 7-News, whdh.com, March 28, 2011 Continue reading

March 23, 2011

UConn Student from Westminster, Massachusetts, Killed by Campus Shuttle Bus

by Altman & Altman

On Tuesday night, a University of Connecticut shuttle bus struck and killed a student from Westminster, Massachusetts at an intersection on campus. The UConn student, 20-year-old David N. Plamondon, was living off campus. The bus hit Plamondon in the intersection of Hillside Road and Alumni Drive by the North Parking Garage on campus at approximately 8:15 p.m. A witness of the fatal accident immediately called the campus police. Campus police arrived at the scene of the accident with emergency crews and administered first aid but could not save him as his injuries were so severe. Although the cause of the accident is unknown and the case is under investigation, a medical examiner will determine the cause of the Plamondon’s death.

Major Ronald Blicher, of the UConn Police, said, “There were witnesses to the accident…They are being interviewed by police…The bus driver is being interviewed by police.” Police do not believe that the UConn women’s basketball game on campus was related to this accident or that the victim had been to the game. No charges have been filed yet.

Pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers should always use extra caution on campuses and especially after dark. On Boston University’s campus website, students are reminded of the following pedestrian safety tips:

• Be careful when crossing streets and tracks.
• Always use pedestrian crosswalks.
• Look left and right for cars, bikes, and trolleys before crossing the street.
• Always be alert when using personal electronic devices.
• Walk in well-lit areas at night.
• Use an escort security service or walk with a friend to your destination.

If you or your loved one has been injured or killed in an accident, please feel free to contact one of our Massachusetts traffic fatality lawyers who can help you with their 25 years of experience.

Sources:

UConn student from Mass. killed by shuttle bus, Boston Herald, March 23, 2011
UConn student struck, killed by bus, ctpost.com, March 23, 2011
On and Off Campus Safety Tips, Boston University, Dean of Students Continue reading

March 21, 2011

Plymouth Man Sentenced for Fatal Crash in 2008

by Altman & Altman

Two and a half years after a fatal accident on Mt. Hope Bridge, Jamie Pretti of Plymouth has been charged with one count of driving under the influence resulting in death and to leaving the scene of the accident resulting in death. On September 12, 2008, Jamie Pretti was driving with his friend, Timothy Macleod, of Plymouth, from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth to Roger Williams University for a party. Pretty is reported to have lost control of his vehicle when he tried to pass another vehicle on the Mt. Hope Bridge, resulting in the death of Macleod. The Office of the Attorney General said that a breath test confirmed that Pretti’s blood alcohol was more than twice the legal limit.

Since the accident, Pretti has been out on $100,000 surety bail but is now in the custody of the Department of Corrections. Pretti pleaded no contest to his sentence of 15 years, with seven to serve, three and a half of which will be held at Adult Correctional Institutions and three and a half years on home confinement. He also lost his license for five years and has been ordered to pay $5,000 in fines.

Drinking and consumption of alcohol on or around campuses affect almost all college campuses. College Drinking Prevention reports that approximately 3,360,000 college students drive under the influence of alcohol in one year. The National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), a part of the National Institutes of Health, has recently conducted research projects in which colleges and their surrounding communities attempt to reduce excessive alcohol consumption by targeting local drinking settings and implementing prevention strategies in an attempt to minimize college-related alcohol abuse and drunk driving.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident, please do not hesitate to contact one of our experienced Massachusetts car accident lawyers for a free consultation.

Massachusetts Man Sentenced in Connection with Fatal Crash on Mt. Hope Bridge, Bristol-Warren Patch, March 14, 2011
NIH-Supported Study finds Strategies to Reduce College Drinking, National Institutes of Health, November 11, 2010 Continue reading

March 16, 2011

State Senator Katherine Clark Calls for Clearer Drunk Driving Laws in Massachusetts

by Altman & Altman

In an effort to make Massachusetts drunk driving laws easier to understand and apply, State Senator Katherine Clark has called for legislation that would make the laws more comprehensible. In Massachusetts, impaired driving laws have been amended 69 times and continue to become more confusing and repeated in many places. For example, when the legislation was changed in 2005 for repeat drunk driving, not only did it adopt the new name, “Melanie’s Law,” in memory of 13-year old Melanie Powell who was killed by a repeat drunk driver, but the change added eight new sections and seven new categories of amendments to the law that was already ambiguous. As a result, the law can be construed and interpreted in many different ways.

In an article written by State Senator Clark in today’s Boston Globe, Clark writes that: “…judges, prosecutors and defense counsel struggle to apply the law. Most experts agree that the content of the law is solid, but the language needs to be re-worked to ensure protections against drunk drivers.” She continues to say, “In an effort to reorganize the Commonwealth’s OUI laws, I have filed An Act to Protect the Citizens of the Commonwealth from Drunk Drivers.” She argues that this call to clarify the law will not change the substance, criminal sentences, or penalties, but will rather make it easier to understand and use in order to protect citizens from drunk drivers.

There are approximately 13,000 Massachusetts drivers who are convicted of drinking and driving each year. In 2008 alone, there were 363 traffic fatalities due to drunk driving in Massachusetts. State Senator Clark asserts that this legislation will improve the drunk driving law to “protect the citizens of the Commonwealth.”

If you have been injured in an accident, please feel free to contact one of our experienced lawyers for a free consultation.

Source:

Clark calls for clarifying drunk driving laws, The Boston Globe, March 16, 2011 Continue reading

March 9, 2011

Rear-End Accident Turns Fatal in Lynnfield

by Altman & Altman

In Lynnfield, Massachusetts, a fender-bender turned into a fatal accident. After a taxi rear-ended a Chevrolet Cobalt, both of the drivers pulled over and exited their vehicles to inspect the damage. William Halpin III, 25, from Melrose, who was under the influence of drugs in a passing vehicle, hit both the taxi driver and the parked Cobalt. The taxi driver, from Lynn, died after he was taken to the hospital. Police arrested Halpin for vehicular homicide and for driving under the influence. The other injured victim was a six-year-old boy who was sitting in the Cobalt when it was struck by Halpin.

When pulled over on the side of the road, it is very important to assess the situation of passing vehicles. Although the driver in this case was under the influence, one must always look carefully for oncoming traffic. Remember to turn on your hazard lights and carry the necessary roadside accident supplies in your trunk, such as a reflective hazard indicator to put on the street and a reflective florescent vest.

In the event of a collision, Sheila Varnado, of the Driving School Association of the
Americas, suggests the following:

• Make sure that you are out of harm’s way. Once you are outside of your vehicle, you are at risk of being hit by oncoming traffic.
• If you are disoriented or injured, stay in the car.
• First check yourself for injuries, then check others.
• Only provide medical assistance that you are capable of and trained in. Vernado says: “Anytime you’re involved in a collision, only render aid within your ability.”
• Call 911. You are required to call the police or highway patrol if anyone is injured. Dial 911, or program the highway-patrol number into your cell-phone.
• Write down the other driver’s name, address, date of birth, phone number, car make and model, and license plate number. Varnado says, “Get the full information of all drivers, passengers, and witnesses…This includes driver’s license numbers, vehicle registration and proof of insurance with policy number.”
• For legal and insurance purposes, take pictures using a cell-phone or disposable camera. That way, Varnado says, you can “see how the intersection looked, the weather conditions, icy roads, exactly how much damage was done to the cars, the position of the vehicles, where the vehicles ended up, and the severity of the collision for example.”
• Inform your insurance company.

If you have been injured in an accident and would like a free consultation, feel free to contact one of our attorneys who have over 25 years of experience representing car accident victims.

Sources:

Car accident in Lynnfield, Mass. claims one life, NECN, March 5, 2011
What to do if you get into an accident, The Boston Globe Continue reading

February 28, 2011

Victims of Fatal Crash Not Wearing Seatbelts

by Altman & Altman

Massachusetts State Police are investigating a fatal accident in which Karla Nieves-Vazquez, 23, and Jesus Nieves, 17, both of Springfield, were killed on Interstate-91. Police believe that neither Nieves-Vasquez or Nieves were wearing seatbelts. In this single-car crash, it is reported that Nieves-Vasquez lost control of her 2002 Dodge Stratus. The car turned over multiple times and then landed in the ditch of the median. The car’s other two occupants, Jesus A. Ferreira, 20, and Martin A. Nieves, 18, also of Springfield, were taken to Baystate Medical Center for medical attention.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that seatbelts save over 13,000 lives per year. In 2006, over 60% of victims of fatal car crashes between the ages of 16-24 were not wearing seatbelts. These lives could have been saved if they were wearing seatbelts. The NHTSA provides the following life-saving reminders on the importance of seatbelt safety:

• Wearing your seatbelt is the best thing you can do to protect yourself in an accident • Airbags are not designed to replace seatbelts • Buckle-up correctly; the lap belt and shoulder belt should be secure across the pelvis and rib cage, which can endure crash forces better than other parts of your body • Make sure your seatbelt fits; you can obtain belt extenders or a new shoulder belt from your car dealer or manufacturer • Age or condition is not an excuse; everyone should wear a seatbelt. There are effective ways for pregnant women, obese, and eldery, to safely buckle-up. Visit A Parent’s Guide to Child Safety on
how to safely buckle-up your child.

Our experienced lawyers have over 25 years of knowledge representing car accident victims throughout Massachusetts. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have a question on a case or would like a free consultation.

Sources:

I-91 crash victims identified, WWLP-22News, February 25, 2011
The top 5 things you should know about buckling up, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Continue reading

February 24, 2011

Fatal Three-Car Pile-Up in Peabody

by Altman & Altman

At 6:44 a.m. on Wednesday morning, a three-car accident on Route 128 resulted in the death of Wallace Arnott, a 56-year-old man from Haverhill. Dr. Joshua Namias, who was on his way to Salem Hospital for work, pulled over and provided assistance alongside an unidentified nurse, who had also pulled over to help. They were able to provide CPR for Arnott until paramedics arrived.

Arnott was first taken to Salem Hospital, and then transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital where he was pronounced dead in the early afternoon. Arnott was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Aveo, which is a small car. The other two vehicles involved were a 1996 Jeep Cherokee and a 2002 Chevrolet Venture minivan. Kenneth Weeden of Peabody, was the driver of the Jeep and was taken to Salem Hospital for serious injuries. The driver of the minivan, Rita Tavarez, was not injured. Although the crash is under investigation, state police have confirmed that the accident was a series of rear-end accidents.

State police, the Peabody Fire Department, and the Massachusetts Highway Division, all responded to the scene of the accident.

Reported shortly after this crash in the northbound lanes, an accident in the parallel southbound lanes occurred. There were no serious injuries reported in the second crash and both lanes were cleared by 10:30 a.m.

Our lawyers have over 25 years of experience representing clients throughout Massachusetts who have been involved in car accidents. Please feel free to contact us if you have a question in regards to a case and would like a free consultation.

Source:

Man killed, 1 injured in crash on Route 128 Gloucester Times, February 23, 2011 Continue reading

February 22, 2011

Alcohol Detection System Being Developed to Promote Safe Driving

by Altman & Altman

QinetiQ North America, a research and development company based in Waltham, is developing a system that can sense a driver’s blood alcohol level and prevent the car from moving if the driver’s alcohol content is at or above the .08 legal limit. The system, the Driver Alcohol Detection Systems for Safety, will use sensors on the steering wheel and door locks to determine the driver’s blood alcohol level via skin contact.

David Strickland, the director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), said that the technology could prevent as many as 9,000 fatal alcohol-related crashes a year in the United States. In 2008 alone, 42% of Massachusetts driving fatalities were the result of drinking and driving. Alcohol-related accidents continue to plague the state.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently visited the Waltham facility for a public demonstration of the system, during which the system was tested and displayed. Strickland, who was also at the demonstration, said that although the device is in the early stages of development and that it will not be available for another few years, he emphasized that it will not be released until it is “seamless, unobtrusive and unfailingly accurate.” LaHood said that the alcohol detection system is “another arrow in our automotive safety quiver,” as it is envisioned to deter drinking and driving for the future.

Our experienced lawyers represent clients throughout Massachusetts who have been in alcohol-related accidents. If you have a question in regards to a case and would like a free consultation, please feel free to contact us.

Source:

In Future, Cars Might Decide If Driver Is Drunk,National Public Radio, The Associated Press, January 29, 2011 Continue reading

February 14, 2011

Northborough Woman Dies in I-95 Accident

by Altman & Altman

Claudette J. Kumor, 57, of Northborough was ejected from her car after being rear-ended on I-95 in Attleboro early on Saturday morning. Kumor lost control of her 2004 Ford Explorer when hit from behind by Samantha Lee Fletcher, 19, of Danvers, in the slow lane of traffic. The SUV is reported to have flipped over many times and Kumor was ejected from the vehicle. Authorities have confirmed that Kumor was not wearing a seatbelt and was confirmed dead when the emergency crew arrived. Her passenger, Carolyn P. Bibbo, 34, of Woonsocket, R.I., was trapped inside the wreckage and then taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, R.I., for serious injuries. Fletcher was not injured in the accident.

The accident is under investigation and police are considering Fletcher’s speed as the cause of the accident. No charges have been made.

Our attorneys have been representing personal injury and accident victims for over 40 years. Feel free to contact us to speak to one of our experienced attorneys for a free consultation.

Sources:

Northborough woman killed in crash on I-95 in Attleborough this morning, The Boston Globe, February 12, 2011
Northborough woman killed in crash on I-95 in Attleboro, The Milford Daily News, February 12, 2011 Continue reading

December 17, 2010

33-year-old Killed in SUV Rollover on Route 128

by Altman & Altman

Matthew M. Cox, a 33-year-old from Westwood, was killed in an SUV rollover on Route 128 Wednesday. The rollover occurred around 4 p.m. when his Ford Explorer, which was travelling in the left lane, veered to the right and hit a guardrail. Cox was ejected from the SUV and declared dead at Needham’s Beth Israel Deaconess-Glover Hospital. He hadn’t been wearing a seatbelt, according to police.

Boston Globe, One killed in rollover on Route 128 in Needham

This is one of many rollovers that have happened in recent weeks. Notably, Ford Explorers have been the subject of design-defect controversy in the past, given the frequency of Explorer rollovers, but NHTSA reported that Explorers are no more likely than other SUVs to roll over.

When a rollover happens after hitting a guardrail, as here, it is called a “tripped rollover.” Of all rollovers, 95% are tripped rollovers.

This story raises the issue of driver/occupant ejection. When persons are ejected from vehicles in accidents, they are three times more likely to die than persons who are not ejected. They are also far more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries like traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. Here, Cox was not wearing a seatbelt. Sometimes, though, even those who wear seatbelts are ejected from their cars and trucks because of seatbelt defects. Defective door latches can also cause occupant ejection.
Continue reading