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On Saturday evening, a Massachusetts man was hurt in a motorcycle crash on Route 44 in North Canaan. According to the accident report, Charles Pickert, of Ashley Falls, was riding his 1982 Harley Davidson when he veered off the westbound shoulder. He continued traveling west and tipped his motorcycle on its left side around 5:45pm.

The 47-year-old suffered head and face lacerations and was taken by LifeStar to Hartford Hospital. His motorcycle sustained heavy damage and had to be towed by Arnold’s.

According to the motorcycle accident report, an arrest is pending. The accident continues to be under investigation.

Man hurt in motorcycle crash, The Register Citizen, November 30, 2008 Continue reading

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On Thanksgiving morning, a 61-year old Canton man was injured by an Acela Amtrak train en route from New York to Boston. According to local police, Jack Daniels was crossing the railroad tracks at Canton Junction on his way to Honey Dew Donuts when the train accident occurred.

Eyewitnesses said Daniels had just finished crossing the tracks when the train clicked him, skimming his back and ripping his clothes. The train accident victim remained conscious after the accident, though he was in shock.

Within a few minutes of the accident, rescue workers from the Canton fire station arrived and began assisting Daniels, who was later airlifted to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was listed in fair condition. The Amtrak accident is under investigation by transit police.

Canton Man in Fair Condition after Train Accident, WickedLocal.com, November 28, 2008 Continue reading

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As the holidays approach, many drivers will be decking out their vehicles with Christmas trees, decorative reindeer antlers, or holiday wreaths. The Boston Globe recently reported on the safety and legality of such items.

According to their article, it is legal to strap a Christmas tree or other seasonal items (excluding lights) to the roof of your car. However, it cannot obstruct your view of the road or block headlights, turning lights, or brake lights, as such obstructions could potentially cause an auto accident. Drivers may be subject to a $35 fine for “impeded operation” of a car.

Massachusetts state law does restrict the height and width of all vehicles. The limit on vehicle height is 13 feet 6 inches and width is 8 feet 6 inches, which also applies to items lie mattresses, bicycles, furniture, and, in the case of hunters, game kill.

Loads may also extend up to 4 feet beyond the rear of a car. Drivers must attach a red light, cloth, or flag to the end of the load if it exceeds 4 feet. The article continues to describe the insurance implications if your load becomes unattached and causes a traffic accident.

Inside scoop on what can go outside, Boston Globe, November 23, 2008 Continue reading

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According to Massachusetts state police, a man drove off Route 128 northbound and rolled over around 4pm on Tuesday afternoon. Several people called to alert state police that a 1993 Mercury Cougar had gone into the woods and rolled over. State and Manchester police responded to the car accident.

A Medflight was requested but later cancelled. Instead, Stanley Klosowski, 60, of Salem was taken by ambulance to Beverly Hospital, where he was treated for car accident injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. Klosowski was later transferred to Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical center, where he was listed in fair condition.

The interstate accident is under investigation by state police.

Crash victim driven, not flown, to hospital, Gloucester Daily Times, November 20, 2008 Continue reading

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The Boston Globe reported recently that two members of the MBTA crews connected with recent accidents on the Green Line have tested positive for drugs or alcohol. Neither accident resulted in life-threatening injuries, but testing was part of part of routine accident procedure. Both employees were suspended without pay while the MBTA works through the formal process of dismissing them.

The MBTA would not release the names of the employees in question, and it denied that the positive test results were indicative of a substance abuse problem within the MBTA. According to MBTA officials, the T’s safety regulations are actually more thorough than those mandated by the Federal Transit Administration.

The MBTA’s safety program includes drug and alcohol screenings before hiring crew members and random tests on crew members with safety-sensitive jobs. Both of the employees in question had tested negative during random screenings over the past 13 months.

Both accidents remain under investigation.

2 at T may be fired in crashes, Boston Globe, November 21, 2008 Continue reading

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According to an information officer for the Uxbridge, Massachusetts police, a local teen was injured after crashing his Dad’s all-terrain vehicle on Monday. The 16-year old was driving past Mill Street when he hit a tree. The teen and his passenger, also 16, were not wearing helmets at the time of the ATV accident.

The passenger was treated and released from UMass-Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. The driver is listed in stable condition at UMass Memorial Hospital. Police would not release names, as they are both minors.

Police do not suspect that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the ATV crash, but they may press charges because operating an ATV on a public road is illegal. Recreational vehicles are not permitted on public roads. They are only allowed on the driver’s own property or on private property with the consent of the property owner.

For information on the safe use and operation of recreational vehicles, visit the website of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Police.

ATV crash lands teen in hospital, Milford Daily News, November 18, 2008 Continue reading

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In Swansea, Massachusetts, cleanup crews worked into the night after a tanker trunk rolled over on Sunday morning on Interstate 195, spilling several thousand gallons of gasoline. According to the fire chief, rescue teams were able to recover about 2,000 gallons of the 12,500 gallons spilled.

State police say that the truck rollover occurred at 5:50am a half-mile from Exit 3, the Swansea Mall exit ramp. Kim Kilbreth, 55, who was driving the trucker reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which came to rest on its right side.

As of Monday morning, the right eastbound lane of I-95 was still closed. State police are investigating the cause of the truck accident. No injuries were reported.

Swansea rollover leads to massive gas spill, SouthCoastToday.com, November 17, 2008 Continue reading

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In Brighton, Massachusetts, a Boston College student was hit by a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) train on Monday morning. The trolley accident occurred near Lake Street and Commonwealth Avenue, where the unidentified 21-year old walked in front of an inbound train.

A spokesperson for the MBTA said that the trolley operator attempted to get the pedestrian’s attention by blowing the horn. However, the student was wearing headphones, so these attempts failed to get his attention.

Both the trolley operator and the trolley accident victim were taken to Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The operator underwent routine drug and alcohol tests, while the victim received treatment for head and leg injuries, as well as facial lacerations.

The MBTA bused riders between Washington Street and Boston College stations as they investigated the MBTA accident.

BC Student Hit, Hurt By Green Line Trolley, TheBostonChannel.com, November 17, 2008 Continue reading

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Last weekend, state police responded to almost 20 traffic accidents during a 6-hour period. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in these accidents, but state officials and police now say they believe that these car accidents may have been the result of a liquid spill that occurred on Saturday night.

The Saturday evening accident involved a Hyde Park man who drove his Honda Civic into a wall near a tunnel on Interstate-93. He was issued a citation. Following the accident, police responded to several more motor vehicle accidents in the same area. Hydraulic fluids and antifreeze may have contributed to these car crashes.

One injured driver, a 25-year old from Dorchester, was taken to New England Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries. The series of interstate accidents remains under investigation.

Vehicle fluids may have caused tunnel accidents, police say, Boston Globe, November 18, 2008 Continue reading

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This morning around 8:45am, a trolley collision in Boston’s Boylston T station sent seven people, including two trolley conductors, to the hospital. The MBTA accident victims reported neck and pain and were transported to New England Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, and Massachusetts General Hospital.

According to spokesperson for the MBTA, one trolley bumped into a second trolley, causing the two trolleys to hitch together. Both trains contained about 500 commuters, who exited the trolley and walked through the subway tunnel to get to Boylston station.

Although the subway accident did not damage or derail the trains, Green Line service was delayed for several hours. Riders took buses between stations at Arlington and Government Center before regular trolley service resumed just before 10:30am. Investigators say they will examine the tracks, signals, and the behavior of the train operators to determine the cause of the trolley collision.

Trolley collision injures 7, delays Green Line, Boston Globe, November 14, 2008 Continue reading

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