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In Amherst, Massachusetts, a University of Massachusetts graduate student was hit by a car on campus last night. Li Cai, 25, was transported to Bay State Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts after the pedestrian accident.

According to the university’s news office director, the impact of the car threw Cai about 20 feet. The Camry sedan was driving west on Massachusetts Avenue near the Isenberg School of Management, and it is believed that the setting sun may have cast a glare that contributed to the car accident.

Cai’s condition is unknown, and the university police are investigating the motor vehicle accident. No charges have been filed.

University of Massachusetts graduate student struck by car in campus accident, The Republican Newsroom, October 3, 2008
Graduate student hurt in crash, The Daily Collegian, October 3, 2008 Continue reading

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The Worcester Telegram recently published an editorial in response to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s proposal to raise the minimum driving age across the country. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens, and the statistics show that younger drivers do have a higher rate of car accidents than those with more experience on the road.

However, according to the editorial, uniformly raising the minimum driving age is not the solution. As the writer points out, Massachusetts issues junior operator’s licenses to drivers aged 16.5. Before driving by themselves, teen drivers must hold a learner’s permit for at least six months and complete classroom driving instruction and training before the wheels. Teen drivers in Massachusetts must also follow restricted driving hours and obey a passenger limit.

Some would suggest the graduated licensing system used in Massachusetts might help drivers gain experience on the road without exposing them to unsupervised or unsafe driving conditions too soon.

State’s graduated licensing for youth best route, Worcester Telegram, September 11, 2008 Continue reading

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A bicyclist who was hit by a police car in Everett, Massachusetts last week has been taken off life support. An officer whose name has not been released was responding to a 911 call when he hit Reda Rouf, 19, of Everett, near the intersection of Ferry and Glendale streets.

Those who witnessed the accident said Rouf was riding at high speed into the intersection before the police cruiser hit him. The driver immediately helped the victim after he was hit. Rouf remains in critical condition at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Everett police told WBZ-TV that the 911 call was for an unrelated accident. The officer involved in the accident has been placed on paid administrative leave while the accident is under investigation.

Cyclist Hit By Police Car Taken Off Life Support, WBZTV.com, September 18, 2008 Continue reading

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A Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus hit a Boston University student earlier this month. Officials from the BU Police Department said this is the second incident involving a student and a cycling accident in two days.

An 18-year-old male student was cycling along Commonwealth Avenue outside of Boston University’s Fitness and Recreation Center when he was struck from behind by the MBTA bus on its front right side. The bus accident victim complained of back pain and was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

There are no bike lanes in that part of Commonwealth Avenue. The Boston Police Department plans to investigate the cycling accident along with the MBTA Transit Police.

FitRec the site of second cycling accident this week, Daily Free Press, September 18, 2008 Continue reading

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In Barnstable, Massachusetts, a 24-year old has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by motor vehicle. Michael Catarius has admitted he was drunk when he caused a car accident that killed two men. Prior to the crash, Catarius had left a party in Sandwich, Massachusetts.

The car accident victims were Michael Warren, 26, a passenger, and Edward Kipp, 48, who was driving a pick-up truck. Prosecutors claimed Catarius barreled through a locked gate after guards stopped him at the Massachusetts Military Reservation in July 2007. He then ran a red light, hit a car, and became airborne, hitting Kipp’s pickup truck.

Last Friday at Barntable Superior Court, Catarius was sentenced to seven to ten years in prison.

Cape man pleads guilty in crash that killed 2, Boston Herald, September 20, 2008 Continue reading

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According to a Nationwide Insurance study, about a fifth of drivers text while the drive. That statistic increases to two thirds among drivers aged 18 to 24. Almost 80 percent of car crashes in the United States are caused by distracted drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The evidence points to text messaging as a potentially deadly distraction. In 2007, a car accident involving five teenage girl and a tractor trailer claimed the lives of all five girls. It was later discovered that the driver was texting just before the deadly car crash.

Still, the law has been slow to catch up to this technological development. NHTSA does not have a policy in place regarding text messaging while driving a car. Instead, they leave regulations to state and local agencies. So far, Alaska, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Washington state have laws banning texting while driving. A ban goes into effect in Westchester County, New York next spring.

Of course, text messaging can also be a hazard to pedestrians. Earlier this week, a 14-year old boy in Florida was killed after stepping in front of a car. He was distracted by a text message on his cell phone. The deputy said they have no plans to file charges against the driver.

Driving While Texting Laws Slow To Catch Up To Problem, InjuryBoard.com, September 23, 2008
Teen Killed In Crash While Texting On Phone, WESH.com, September 23, 2008 Continue reading

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Last week in New Bedford, Massachusetts, a four-car crash on Interstate 195 eastbound killed one driver. Massachusetts police say the fatal car accident occurred just before the afternoon rush hour between exit 12 and 13 on Interstate 195. They have identified the car accident victim as Barbara Niemi, 61, of Wareham.

According to troopers, the victim’s car hit back the of a GMC crossover driven by Ryan Feeney, 32, of Fairhaven. The GMC rolled over and the driver sustained minor injuries.

Though some car accidents are minor fender-benders that result in minor property damages, more serious accidents can have catastrophic results, including serious injuries, major property damage, and even death. Motorists are covered by their own Personal Injury Protection insurance, but oftentimes medical costs can far exceed the policy limits of PIPs.

One dead, several hurt in 195 crash, turnto10.com, September 18, 2008 Continue reading

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In Peabody, Massachusetts on Monday, two drivers were seriously injured as the result of a head-on collision. A Chevy Cavalier and a Ryder rental truck collided on Lowell Street in Peabody just before noon.

Peabody police say it appeared that Suzanne Coughter of Peabody drove her compact car into the opposite lane of traffic, hitting the truck. Coughter suffered injuries to her legs and possibly chest and head. Emergency rescue personnel had to extract her from the sight of the car accident. She was airlifted to Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital.

Glenn Jalbert, also of Peabody, was driving the truck and was transported by ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital. As of Monday, he was listed in fair condition, according to The Salem News.

The only witness to the car accident was a passenger riding in the truck. The accident is under investigation by the state police accident reconstruction team.

Crash sends two to hospital, The Salem News, September 16, 2008 Continue reading

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According to the Cape Cod Times, a Brazilian teen living in Marstons Mills crashed his car into a tree on Race Lane on Saturday, then fled the scene.

The 1994 Mercedes was discovered by Barnstable police, but there was no driver. The car had a smashed windshield and both airbags deflated. The driver, 17-year-old Jean Ikchucki, later returned with his mother to the scene of the car crash.

Police took both people to the Barnstable police station, where they spoke with investigators though a translator. The teen initially told investigators that his mother was driving the car, but they discovered that he had been behind the wheel. Since both mother and son are living in Massachusetts illegally, neither one has a valid Massachusetts driver’s license.

Police gave Ikchucki a criminal citation for operating without a license; however, it is unlucky that he or his mother will be deported as a result of the car crash.

Teen crashes car into tree, flees scene, Cape Cod Times, September 13, 2008 Continue reading

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In Attleboro, Massachusetts, a 24-year old driver of a sport utility vehicle died after colliding with a Jeep on Thatcher Street last Wednesday night.

Randy Cummings was driving east on Thatcher Street around 11:45 pm when he rear-ended the Jeep, which was driven by Sean M. Caponigro, 31, of Attleboro. Cummings’ car continued several hundred feet before hitting a cement wall. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the car accident.

Police suspect that Cummings may have been speeding and may have been driving under the influence of alcohol, but they will not know more until they receive the results of the toxicology tests and work with state police reconstruction experts to determine how fast he was driving.

The motor vehicle accident is under investigation by Massachusetts state police detectives and the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

Police: Speed caused crash, The Sun-Chronicle, September 12, 2008
Somersworth man dies in Mass. car crash, Fosters.com, September 12, 2008 Continue reading

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